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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To hear that they have charged rolf harris

80 replies

londonrach · 29/08/2013 12:53

Was a massive fan of rolf harris in the 1980s watching his art shows after school. I cant believe he has now been charged with activity from the 1980 to last year. Am i being unreasonable to be upset on hearing this news despite the fact ive never meet him.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 29/08/2013 22:55

They get away with it because the are nice people, that's precisely why!

valiumredhead · 29/08/2013 22:56

Taffeta, except he's not is he?Confused

ShellyBoobs · 29/08/2013 23:02

Taffeta, except he's not is he?

He hasn't been found guilty of anything yet.

galletti · 29/08/2013 23:04

Again, innocent until proven guilty. Having said that, dh and I were discussing this recently aftyer Stuart Hall's conviction, and both felt in some way, diffficult to explain, but part of our childhood was a bit tainted by it. Grew up almost idolising Jimmy Saville because of Jim'll Fix It, Laughed lots with Stuart Hall on It's a Knockout, loved watching Gary Glitter in his ridiculous 70's outfits on TOTP.

Ones that have not been convicted - Rolf Harris - his art programmes, painting amazing pictures in seconds and that xylophone thingy we he advertised that we all wanted cos of him. DLT- Listening to Radio One in the mornings as a teenager.

soverylucky · 29/08/2013 23:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MoominsYonisAreScary · 29/08/2013 23:26

Ken Barlow? How did I miss that!

sewingandcakes · 29/08/2013 23:32

Notalone I remember watching that exact terrible video when I was a child, and the irony of him making a children's sex abuse educational video at a time when he is alleged to have been abusing children is staggering. Not surprisingly it's no longer available on YouTube.

Lumpybumpymuma · 29/08/2013 23:42

Yanbu OP, 'two little boys' was one of my fave songs.

And now I'm a bit Confused and Shock.

HeffalumpTheFlump · 29/08/2013 23:48

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged."

^This statement was released today. This is what makes people assume he is guilty. I will admit I am finding it hard to believe that they would charge him without being 100% sure. It's too high profile to go to court on a whim surely? (Sorry to mnhq if I'm not allowed to say this, I'm a bit unclear on what would or wouldn't prejudice a fair trial.)

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 30/08/2013 00:12

I am saddened. I have a signed postcard from him and loved him performing at Glastonbury Sad

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 30/08/2013 00:13

And agree with the right to a fair trial. I will assume innocent until proved guilty too.

ShellyBoobs · 30/08/2013 00:35

I am finding it hard to believe that they would charge him without being 100% sure.

If they were 100% sure, there'd be no need for a trial.

Do you think everyone who is charged with offences is guilty?

McNewPants2013 · 30/08/2013 00:44

Threads like this twist my mind ( not because of posters comments)

I would never disbelieve a person who has found the courage to report this type of crime.

however i believe in innocent before guilty.

HELP

SamHamwidge · 30/08/2013 01:17

He painted a big emu and kangaroo when he visited my former primary school in 1979. It hung in the assembly hall for years. :(

AmberLeaf · 30/08/2013 02:11

you are SO right about it being a different era and what went with it. But you will NEVER convince most of the MNs of that. They didn't live then, so it didn't happen/was the same as today. It wasn't

Yeah an era of young girls and women not being believed and being blamed for the things men did to them.

Its changed somewhat now, but clearly those stupid mindsets remain for some.

Also there are plenty of MNers who were alive back then, do you think we are all 21?

Mimishimi · 30/08/2013 02:16

Well, I'm Aussie and I always felt there was something a bit weird about him (saw him in concert as a kid) but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. He shouldn't get trial by media though because false accusations do happen.

Lazyjaney · 30/08/2013 07:32

I would never disbelieve a person who has found the courage to report this type of crime

At some point this whole thing is going to turn bad as all sorts of people get on the bandwagon.

however i believe in innocent before guilty

That is a very good approach IMO.

biryani · 30/08/2013 07:46

He's been charged, not tried. Perhaps best to reserve judgement till he's actually convicted?

lotsofdogshere · 30/08/2013 08:00

Sexual harassment at work and socially was less hidden in the 50's, 60's an 70's than it is now. Most sex offenders look like everybody else, unlike JS, they are often married, with children and so appear "normal". It's a great way to hide in full site. This thread confirms how hard it is for people to believe that someone they "know", even if it's only via the TV, can abuse children. There will be a trial, but to have been charged the CPS must believe it's in the public interest and that there is a high probability the evidence is strong enough to convict him.

Sparklysilversequins · 30/08/2013 08:04

CPS don't tend to take cases to court unless they feel they are likely to lead to a conviction. They must have some pretty strong evidence.

Awomansworth · 30/08/2013 08:14

Sadly I believe this is just the latest name of many more to come.

It does make you wonder how many more from this era are sat at home waiting for the knock on the door.

valiumredhead · 30/08/2013 09:56

Sparkly-quite! A fair trial at this point is going through the motions, they will have very strong evidence.

Goldenhandshake · 30/08/2013 10:38

I agree with whoever pointed out that sexual predators look like everyone else, normal, run of the mill every day people. The commenst about him 'looking like a nice man' are ridiculous.

My family learnt this to our detriment when we found my cousins daughter had been groomed and abused by a family friends husband, a successful, handsome, utterly charming man who turned out to be a sick and depraved monster.

They really do come in all shapes and sizes and because of this I do not trust any man who isn't her father, 100% to be alone with my DD.

MiaowTheCat · 30/08/2013 10:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cookethenook · 30/08/2013 10:46

Yanbu. It's horrible to think about.

I think it was last year, a member of a band I used to like when I was younger was convicted of some truly horrible things involving babies. It makes me feel physically sick to think that I bought their albums, went to their gigs and admired them. I was really quite distressed for a while after I heard, to think that I'd basically supported this guy while he was doing these disgusting and cruel things.