Rolf Harris Jailed

[Stephen]

Jailed for five years and nine months

[Romig1]

Should be home for Christmas then, what with good behaviour etc.....

[Stephen]

Should be home for Christmas then, what with good behaviour etc.....

If that long.

[Manoverboard]

What he did was wrong but this is, or could be, a life sentence or even a death sentence which is not the correct judgement.

[Ray Scully]

Appears that the prison van carrying him entered Wormwood Scrubs closely followed by two Dulux vans. Are the cells going to get a makeover ?

Ray

[Romig1]

What he did was wrong but this is, or could be, a life sentence or even a death sentence which is not the correct judgement.

Can't agree with you there Moby.

If his vile crimes warranted such a length of custody, then his age/infirmity etc etc should IMO be irrelevant.

[Meg 50]

if he'd been done for fraud or some'at he'd be put to use helping out educating, giving art classes and entertaining...

however, as with any crime involving children, he'll be in solitary for his own safety. (whether he deserves that protection is a moot point)

[Meg 50]

and his punishment will continue for the rest of his life - even after release - cos he's such a well known person

[Jan Rosser]

I really felt that he played to the cameras when he entered court each day - the hand-holding and walking slowly - really annoyed me so I am glad the Judge was not swayed by his behaviour. As for saying he was his wife's carer sorry that doesn't ring true for me either.

[Ray Scully]

and his punishment will continue for the rest of his life - even after release - cos he's such a well known person

Well he's enjoyed over many years the advantages of being a well known celebrity, don't suppose he can complain if there are also disadvantages.

Ray

[GillD46]

He is obviously a very manipulative person. I applaud the custodial sentence - shame it's so much shorter than the sentence many of his victims have to serve.

[colwill]

He should have thought about the repercussions before abusing those unfortunate girls.

As for the sentence being too harsh at his age, an appeal against its leniency has gone in. Good!

[Stephen]

Appears that the prison van carrying him entered Wormwood Scrubs closely followed by two Dulux vans. Are the cells going to get a makeover ?

Ray

Today Rolf Harris was jailed for 5yrs and nine months.

Good behaviour and all Rolf’s experience the BBC are hoping he’ll be out in time to host this years 'Children In Need'.

[Meg 50]

I really felt that he played to the cameras when he entered court each day - the hand-holding and walking slowly - really annoyed me so I am glad the Judge was not swayed by his behaviour. As for saying he was his wife's carer sorry that doesn't ring true for me either.

his daughter admitted it was staged - they travelled separately and met up in a cafe before arriving in court together

[wolfie]

Well said GillD and colwill. I agree completely.

[colwill]

Thank you wolfie.

The same source who told me in November 2012 that Rolf Harris was being questioned by police, long before his name was released in the mainstream media, has given me two extremely well-known names whose crimes will dwarf anything Harris has done. What a terrible world.

NB - moderators: panic not, I have no intention of naming either of them on here.

[GillD46]

While not having been subject to such things myself, thank God, someone I know very, very well has, and I find little as abhorrent as child abuse.

[Manoverboard]

What he did was wrong but this is, or could be, a life sentence or even a death sentence which is not the correct judgement.

Can't agree with you there Moby.

If his vile crimes warranted such a length of custody, then his age/infirmity etc etc should IMO be irrelevant.

Probably so but justice should have been served over 30 years ago and at a time when he could have taken a few beatings.

[Stephen]

Not detracting from the offences committed, but the words women and woodwork do leave a bitter taste.

If someone nicks you car or breaks into your house, would you leave it X number of years before reporting it. And yes, I know we are talking about sexual intimacy here, but come on, if you felt that offended wouldn't you either scream and shout and report it at the time, not years later.

[The Tinker]

An older woman maybe, Stephen, but you are talking about younger children here - very vulnerable people.
I wish all children who are abused would report these awful crimes and it would stop some of the tragedies that occur eg bullied children committing suicide.

[oldbluefox]

Why was none of this reported before by those who were abused? Savile, Hall, Smith and now Harris were all sexual predators so why has it taken so long before anybody said anything? If the children did report the abuse why did those in positions of care and trust not bring it to the attention of the police?

Just asking...........

[Holiday Planner]

Those powerful people were able to convince the children that it was either their fault or that they would not be believed.

[wolfie]

Not detracting from the offences committed, but the words women and woodwork do leave a bitter taste.

If someone nicks you car or breaks into your house, would you leave it X number of years before reporting it. And yes, I know we are talking about sexual intimacy here, but come on, if you felt that offended wouldn't you either scream and shout and report it at the time, not years later.

You cannot equate stealing your car or a burglary to child abuse. If the abused had come forward earlier, and some of them did, they would not have been believed because RH was such a high profile figure, same as JS, and it would not have even been considered worthy of pursuing, or, if it was, it was covered up, as now seems likely.

[Stephen]

Wolfie and others. I was talking about young adult women of consenting age, not children. I'm not saying for one minute what he done was ok, but if they really felt that strong about what had happened you would do your utmost to make sure you were believed, not leave it until years later.


With all these celebs being locked up the TV companies must be looking for new talent to fill the gaps. Think I'll get my request in for an application form.

[oldbluefox]

Wolfie and others. I was talking about young adult women of consenting age, not children. I'm not saying for one minute what he done was ok, but if they really felt that strong about what had happened you would do your utmost to make sure you were believed, not leave it until years later.

I agree with Stephen. It would have only needed one case to be brought. As it is, we seem to have had a string of sexual predators who thought they were going to get away with it. They could have been stopped in their tracks years ago. These are not isolated incidents.