Rolf Harris: How predator hid in plain sight and caused his victims a ‘lifetime of pain’ – until survivors felt able to come forward | UK News

One of many victims abused by Rolf Harris was a younger woman hoping to get his autograph.

She was eight years previous.

Following his death at the age of 93, consultants have in contrast the disgraced entertainer to Jimmy Savile, a prolific intercourse offender whose stardom additionally allowed him to cover in plain sight.

Harris died on 10 Could, however particulars have solely now been confirmed nearly two weeks later. The household of the previous broadcaster stated in a press release that he had already been laid to rest.

A household favorite for a number of many years, Harris was convicted of a string of indecent assaults in 2014.

He had been amongst a dozen celebrities arrested throughout Operation Yewtree, certainly one of a collection of police investigations into historic intercourse abuse allegations in opposition to high-profile figures – together with BBC presenter Savile.

Harris’s loss of life has sparked conversations as soon as once more about abuse of fame and energy.

‘They have been capable of conceal in plain sight’

Jim Gamble, chief government of the INEQE Safeguarding Group and former chief government of the CEOP (Youngster Exploitation and On-line Safety Command), stated Harris’s conviction had helped increase consciousness about youngster safety and people abusing positions of energy.

“Individuals like Rolf Harris, individuals like Jimmy Savile, they have been capable of conceal in plain sight, they made individuals imagine they have been ‘too good’ ever to do something that may damage a baby,” he instructed Sky Information.

“Or they made individuals concern them, the consequence of difficult them.

“That wall was taken down [following their convictions] and what occurred was that many, many survivors who’ve carried their burden of ache for many years, felt capable of come ahead – as a result of Operation Yewtree was a pivot and a change within the police method, so individuals being handled with dignity and respect.”

Learn extra: Rolf Harris’s greatest fear was not being loved – his depraved crimes ensure he won’t be

Harris’s victims additionally included two ladies of their early teenagers, and a pal of his daughter.

They’ll all carry “a lifetime of ache”, Mr Gamble stated. “So I discover it tough to have any sympathy with him. In fact I really feel for his household and the burden that they need to bear due to his terrible legacy.

“However my coronary heart goes out to these survivors who’re carrying a burden of ache that is received nothing to do with something they did – and every part to do with a predator who used his movie star, his place of affect, to interact with them and in the end abuse them.”

Narcissism and an ‘air of invincibility’

Like Savile, Harris created a “squeaky-clean family identify” for himself as a youngsters’s entertainer, forensic psychiatrist Dr Sohom Das instructed Sky Information.

“Due to that, it is actually exhausting for anyone to talk out in opposition to them as a result of [victims] usually assume they’re in isolation.

And each of them, they’ve buddies in excessive locations, they’re very enmeshed within the leisure world; they know commissioners, producers, all of the high-powered individuals within the media.

They carry this type of air invincibility round them, which makes it once more rather a lot more durable for victims to talk out as a result of they do not suppose they will be believed.”

They’re additionally charming. “They want a component of attraction simply to get to the positions they have been within the media, as a result of it is so aggressive.

However they most likely had observe in interacting with individuals greater than your common individual, as a result of they’d meet and greet so many individuals.

That is related as a result of I feel it makes them fairly adept at grooming – the method of constructing belief and an emotional reference to future potential victims.”

Abusers akin to Harris are narcissists, stated Dr Das. “[They] break or push extra boundaries, they usually get away with it.

“So that they get away with sexual assault and because it occurs, more and more they grow to be extra assured they usually really feel that they are untouchable.”

Because the tradition round misogyny has shifted, hopefully victims really feel extra capable of communicate out now, Dr Das added. “I feel due to the #MeToo motion and since misogyny is being challenged much more brazenly, and I assume as a result of society usually is changing into extra woke; rightly so, I feel individuals are extra believed and extra able to calling out misogyny and sexism and sexual assault once they see it.”

Leisure journalist Caroline Frost described Harris’s exploitation of his privilege as “a double crime”.

She continued: “It’s utilizing the very instruments by which they’re beloved and admired, and folks need to come near them and they’re abusing that energy.”

Harris died of neck most cancers and “frailty of previous age” at his residence in Bray, Berkshire, in line with his loss of life certificates, which additionally advised he could be cremated.

Frost stated Harris had been fortunate to have “enduring loyalty” from his household, who laid him to relaxation away from the highlight earlier than his loss of life was confirmed publicly.

“They stood by him all through his trial, they have been with him on the finish, they usually have made positive to to place him to relaxation… away from the cameras, away from scrutiny… you may see why they’d need to to conduct these proceedings away from all of that.”

In August 2022, ITV introduced particulars of a documentary that includes the testimonies of Harris’s victims and police concerned in his case.

The primary episode of Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight, aired final week.