Australian artist and entertainer subject of allegations of indecent assault including offence against girl under the age of nine

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The artist and entertainer Rolf Harris is to face three additional charges of indecent assault including one against a girl who was under the age of nine, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

The 83-year-old Australian was already facing 13 charges including four counts of possessing indecent images of children and nine of indecent assault involving two girls aged 14 and 15 during the 1980s.

The new allegations relate to two new complainants and one existing complainant. They include the indecent assault of a girl aged seven or eight in 1968 or 1969, and the indecent assault of girl aged 14 in 1975.

The third charge relates to the indecent assault of a 19-year-old girl, who was one of the complainants in the first set of charges, in 1984.

Harris is due to appear at Southwark crown court for a plea and case management hearing on 14 January next year.

A CPS spokesperson said: "The CPS has decided that Rolf Harris is to be prosecuted over a further three allegations of indecent assault. The three counts will be prosecuted in addition to the 13 alleged sexual offences with which Mr Harris was charged on 29 August 2013. The alleged offences relate to one existing complainant and two new complainants.

"These three allegations were included in the file sent to the CPS by the Metropolitan police in August of this year. However as part of the ongoing review process for all cases, it has been decided that these allegations should be formally added to the indictment as further counts.

"Evidence relating to these further counts has already been served on the court and the defence, so it is not necessary for Mr Harris to appear again at magistrates court.

"He will next appear at Southwark crown court for a plea and case management hearing on 14 January 2014."

His lawyer indicated at Westminster magistrates court in September that he would plead not guilty to the initial 13 allegations.

Harris has lived in the UK for 50 years. He painted the Queen's portrait in 2005 and was awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006.

He was made Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's birthday honours list last year.