Rolf Harris is set to take the witness stand to give evidence at his child sex trial in London.
Court appearance ... Artist and television personality Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court with his daughter Bindi Harris, left, and wife Alwen Hughes, second right, today. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie Source: Getty Images
ROLF Harris has accused one of his alleged indecent assault victims of instigating a sexual relationship with him when she was 18 with her "flirtatious and coquettish" invitations.
And its been revealed for the first the entertainer also had a sexual relationship with a female lodger aged in her mid-30s while she was living on the same property with he and his wife Alwen.
The 84-year-old entertainer yesterday took to the witness stand at Southwark Crown Court in central London to declare his innocence he indecently assaulted four women over a 20-year period, at least three of who were under age.
Harris began evidence in an animated way, chuckling as he described his early days as an entertainer and even sung a verse of his song Jake the Peg to remind the jury of his fame and popularity.
But then his voice dropped to being barely audible as he described claims against him by a woman who alleges he abused her since she was 13 years old in 1978.
Frail ... Rolf Harris reportedly looked tired and frail during today's court appearance. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie Source: Getty Images
Affair 'started when 18'
Harris denied all specific allegations of indecent assaults while the then schoolgirl travelled with his family on holidays to Hawaii and Australia but conceded they did start an affair when she turned 18.
He said the alleged victim had been a best friend to his daughter Bindi since the pair were two-years-old but from the age of 16 his daughter developed a closer friendship with another girl.
He said the alleged victim became jealous but continued to visit and stay over at the Harris house even when Bindi was not there.
He recalled in detail one morning bringing the by now 18 year old girl a cup of tea in bed at his home where she stayed the night and she grabbing his elbow, motioning him to sit then she kicking back the duvet to reveal her bare legs.
"It seemed to me she was being very flirtatious with me, as you can imagine it was very flattering for me," Harris, who was aged 53 at the time, said of the alleged attention "from a very much younger girl".
He said the move with the duvet was an "invitation" and he touched her leg. Nothing happened on that occasion but he detailed other instances of "sexual activity" in which she instigated all with her looking at him in a coquettish manner and he said the sexual chemistry between the pair was clear.
"I find it very hard to discuss this, its highly embarrassing, I am a married man and she was very much younger girl … I shouldn't have been doing it."
He said the relationship developed and they would give each other oral sex on walks in his home village of Bray, in a parking stop on a highway and later at his daughter's house where she grabbed his crotch while watching TV and later that night was sitting naked on the edge of the bed waiting for him. Many times though he said it was oral sex between the two because he would ejaculate early.
"She seemed to be welcoming the whole business and enjoying it," he said of the affair which lasted until she was 29.
Public figure ... Rolf Harris during the opening of Lasseter's Hotel Casino in 1981. Source: Supplied
Second relationship
Harris revealed that it was about this time a woman he knew through mutual friends was angling for free lodging as she was broke, down on her luck and was sick.
They began a sexual relationship while she lived in a converted boat shed on his property. He said it ended when the woman got breast cancer and needed specialist care and moved out. He said his wife Alwen found out about it and it was devastating for the pair but they worked through it. His wife was in court to hear his evidence.
The real deal ... Artist and singer Rolf Harris "spluttered" the sound of his iconic wobble board during his court appearance today. Source: News Limited
'Touchy feely', not abuser
Earlier in his lengthy testimony, Harris said he was a "touchy feely person" but not a sexual abuser.
After 45 minutes on talking about his background he then described the moment he was arrested by police in 2012 and he took a more serious tone.
"I must say it's been very difficult," the more serious Harris said when asked how easy it had been to recall events for police from over 40 years ago.
Harris was specifically asked about the holiday to Australia via Hawaii in which it is alleged he indecently assaulted the 13-year-old.
She has claimed she stepped out of a hotel shower wrapped in a towel and he was in her room and hugged her then spat on his fingers before digitally penetrating her.
He was asked by his lawyer Sonia Woodley QC whether he had hugged the allegedly victim.
"Yes I have, I am a very touchy feely sort of person, I would normally hug anybody," he replied before shaking his head and giving a defiant "no" that his hugs were sexual. On the towel incident he said it "didn't happen".
He was then asked if he fondled the alleged victim again, ostensibly after he wrapped a towel around her after she walked up a Hawaiian beach after a swim.
"No," he replied when asked if that happened.
He also said "that did not happen" when asked if he later abused her again in Perth at the home of his parents after a tickling.
Support ... Alwen Hughes arrives at Southwark Crown Court with her husband, artist and television personality Rolf Harris. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie Source: Getty Images
Charges denied
Harris has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to the indecent assault of four women from 1968 to 1986. Several other women have also appeared in court to formally make allegations of sexual assault against the star but do not form part of the indictment since their claims fall outside of the UK jurisdiction.
Harris, his voice sounding a little strained, asked if he could sit at this part of his evidence and sipped water as he described events from 1968 leading to the moment he allegedly abused the 13-year-old girl. He asked the lawyers and jury at one point whether they could hear him okay to which they replied they could.
It has been a packed Court 2 for Harris appearance with court clerks several times needing to clear people out who were wanting to stand by the doorway and hear the star speak.
The case continues
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