Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris, who grew to become one of many UK's largest TV stars however was later jailed for utilizing his fame to groom and assault younger ladies, has died on the age of 93.

Harris died of neck most cancers and "frailty of old age" at his residence in Bray, Berkshire, on 10 May, in response to his dying certificates. The certificates additionally prompt he can be cremated.

In an announcement, his household stated he "recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest".

The Australian-born TV presenter was a household favorite for many years earlier than being jailed over sexual assaults on younger ladies, together with a childhood buddy of his daughter and an autograph hunter, in 2014.

He denied all of the accusations however was convicted after a high-profile trial of a dozen historic indecent assaults in opposition to 4 ladies and 4 costs of manufacturing indecent baby photographs. It wrecked his profession and ruined his popularity.

Sentencing him to 5 years and 9 months in jail, the choose stated Harris had taken benefit of his celeb standing and proven no regret.

The downfall of a nationwide treasure

Harris arrived in Britain aged 22 from his native Australia in 1953 and have become a nationwide treasure who had a number of of his personal TV collection, and appeared as a visitor on many others from the Sixties onwards.

He had a string of hits with songs similar to Jake the Peg, Two Little Boys, and Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. He additionally appeared a number of occasions at Glastonbury Festival.

Read extra: Rolf Harris's greatest fear was not being loved - his depraved crimes ensure he won't be

He was awarded many honours, together with an MBE, OBE and CBE, a BAFTA fellowship and honorary college doctorates, all of which had been revoked after his conviction.

Queen Elizabeth II sat for him for an eightieth birthday portrait which was hung in Buckingham Palace.

Operation Yewtree arrest

Leading publicist Mark Borkowski stated: "When the accusations sank in you began to feel cheated, that all those emotions you've had for an icon were false.

"He had a darker aspect to him that overshadowed all of the enjoyable and video games he had broadcast for many years.

"People will remember him as an entertainer, unique, [who] lived in the heart of the nation and was good at reinventing himself - but he will be remembered for his crimes."

Harris, married with a daughter, was amongst a dozen celebrities arrested throughout Operation Yewtree, one in every of a collection of police investigations into historic intercourse abuse allegations in opposition to high-profile figures - together with BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, a prolific intercourse offender uncovered solely after his dying.

At the beginning of his trial, the prosecutor described Harris as "a Jekyll and Hyde" character with a hidden darkish aspect to his persona.

A childhood buddy of his daughter Bindi was his primary sufferer, telling the jury he had groomed and indecently assaulted her repeatedly between the ages of 13 and 19, as soon as when his daughter was asleep in the identical room.

She known as the police about Harris after the large publicity surrounding Savile's publicity, although there was no connection between the 2 males's crimes.

Harris stated he'd had a relationship with the girl however claimed it started after she turned 18. He later wrote to her father insisting nothing unlawful had occurred.

'Parents believed their youngsters had been secure'

Mike Hames, former head of the Metropolitan Police's paedophile squad, stated: "Children loved him and parents were willing to leave their children with him because they believed they were safe.

"That's the right method to function from the standpoint of a kid abuser as a result of they're able to get the kid by themselves and since the kid is in awe and impossible to say something."

Australian Tonya Lee, who waived her proper to anonymity, stated Harris abused her thrice on someday when she was 15 and on a theatre group journey to the UK.

She later stated she contemplated taking her personal life due to the abuse.

Other victims informed the court docket that he touched or groped them, generally at public occasions or charity performances.

Jurors had been additionally informed of indecent assaults on ladies in Australia, New Zealand, and Malta - though Harris wasn't charged with abroad crimes.

Peter Watt, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), stated the charity had helped police construct the case in opposition to Harris after 28 calls to its helpline, together with 13 ladies who stated he had abused them.

Mr Watt stated after Harris's conviction: "His reckless and brazen sexual offending, sometimes in public places, bizarrely within sight of people he knew, speaks volumes about just how untouchable he thought he was."

Wife stood by him in last years

In 2015, Harris was stripped of his CBE and of honours in his native Australia.

In 2017, whereas he was nonetheless in jail, he was placed on trial a second time, over 4 allegations of indecent assault on three teenage ladies. He denied the fees and was found not guilty after the jury failed to agree verdicts.

In an announcement learn out by his lawyer, Harris stated: "I feel no sense of victory, only relief. I'm 87 years old, my wife is in ill health and we simply want to spend our remaining time together in peace."

Harris was free of jail midway by way of his second trial after serving three years. One of his convictions was overturned on appeal.

He spent the remainder of his days dwelling reclusively together with his sculptor spouse Alwen, who had stood by him, on the couple's Thames riverside residence in Berkshire.