Veteran British entertainer convicted of indecent assault

A court in Britain Monday convicted veteran entertainer and artist Rolf Harris of 12 counts of indecent assault from charges dating over nearly two decades, a leading British daily reported.

Harris, 84, who as an entertainer hosted prime-time entertainment shows, presented cartoon programmes and animal shows in a career spanning over six decades, was found guilty after a six-week hearing at the Southwark crown court, the Guardian reported.

"He was a children's entertainer and they were beguiled by his singing and painting. And the penalty of their admiration was to suffer sexual assault," the prosecution told the jury.

The court heard evidence from 10 different women about alleged assaults by Harris, who was questioned at length in the witness stand.

The allegations connected to a close friend of his daughter and another woman, however, proved crucial to the court's decision. Harris admitted having sexual relations with the girl 35 years his junior who he had known since she was two.