Paedophile Rolf Harris suffers first appeal setback

Rolf Harris' bid to overturn his conviction for sexually assaulting four young girls has collapsed at the first hurdle.

The 84-year-old disgraced entertainer's lawyers had pitched their case in August, but the Judicial Office confirmed the refusal on October 31, the Mirror reported.

However, the shamed artist, who still has other options open to him, can renew the application in front of three judges at London's Court of Appeal.

Harris, who was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London's Southwark Crown Court in June, was jailed in July for five years and nine months for the assaults and was stripped of a Bafta fellowship and accolades in his native Australia.