Probe into how council let paedo network beast adopt young boy
DISGRACED entertainer Rolf Harris could be free within months after he was cleared of three sex charges.
Harris, 86, showed no emotion as the jury at his latest trial cleared him of groping a blind woman, a 12-year-old autograph hunter and a BBC worker.
They failed to reach verdicts on four other alleged attacks and the prosecution will decide whether he must face a third trial.
But Harris is likely to be released mid-July from his current five-year-and-ninemonth sentence.
He stood trial again after seven women contacted police and the NSPCC after seeing reports of the entertainer’s 2014 convictions for molesting four girls, aged between seven and 19.
Harris did not give evidence, but his barrister said they were “false victims” hunting for compensation.
He was cleared of telling a 12-year-old autograph hunter “let’s give you a little cuddle” before groping her as her mother stood nearby in Portsmouth in 1977.
The Australian artist and former TV star was also cleared of “slobbering” over a blind
Do you find that you often get molested on a Saturday morning?
ROLF HARRIS WHAT HE ALLEGEDLY SAID TO A GIRL AN investigation has begun into how a known member of a paedophile network was allowed to adopt a young boy.
Mark Frost, 70, was told yesterday he would probably die in jail after offences against children over four decades.
The former teacher and scoutmaster was told he would serve at least 16 years behind bars, but may never be released while the authorities consider him still a danger to youngsters.
Croydon council in South London handed over a child in 1988 despite knowing of his links to the notorious woman at Moorfields Eye Hospital in 1977. Jurors also found him not guilty of pinning a BBC worker against a wall and grabbing her breasts at a party in 2002. They took nearly a week to reach verdicts.
Judge Alistair McCreath discharged the seven women and five men and a hearing next Wednesday will decide on another trial. Harris’s defence team claimed the jury in the first trial “got it wrong” and media coverage “made him vulnerable to people making accusations”.
Harris remains accused of putting his hand up the skirt of a 14-year-old autograph hunter in 1971. Another alleged victim was a teenager working on a TV show in the summer of 1978.
He also allegedly asked a 13-year-old, “Do you often get molested on Saturday morning?” before groping her in 1983 and he is accused of making a sexual comment while stroking a 19-year-old’s back in 2002.
Harris’s solicitor Daniel Berke said: “Mr Harris is grateful for the care and attention this jury has given to his case.”
His defence team said Harris is expected to be automatically released from prison on July 19 for the sentence he is serving. Paedophile Information Exchange. Social services believed his claims that his membership was “historic” and had been for academic research. A council spokesman said: “This is a distressing case that has identified potential historical shortcomings. However, we are confident our current systems and processes are robust and similar situations would not arise today.” Frost, of Worcestershire, got 13 life sentences at the Old Bailey, Central London, yesterday for 45 sex offences against boys.