Rolf Harris has been charged

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

Can't link as on phone but just got a news flash saying he's been charged with 9 counts of indecent assault, and 4 to do with indecent images.

[eatyourveg]

I wonder if the images were in fact sketches or drawings which would have in the past been considered artwork?

[Pan]

no eat - there is nothing illegal about drawing stuff at home. 'Making' in this context indicates an image manufactured off the internet.

[AmberLeaf]

The images weren't from the past either, think they were from last year?

[edam]

Oh no, not Rolf! Always thought Stuart Hall and Jimmy Saville were creeps but Rolf seems such a nice guy.

I was hoping it was somehow a mistake, but the child porn stuff is something else. Unless it is the police misinterpreted a drawing rather than something downloaded from t'internet?

[MrsBodger]

I had a work connection with Rolf back in the nineties. He was a really lovely guy - funny, clever, kind, creative, very loyal to his friends and (it seemed) his family. Definitely had an eye for a pretty girl, but never misbehaved.

But I guess someone can be a wonderful person and still do terrible things.

I just so hope it isn't true.

[littlemslazybones]

No. Someone can be a terrible person and simulate the behaviour of a wonderful human.

[burberryqueen]

But I guess someone can be a wonderful person and still do terrible things
err no, wonderful men don't go around raping teenagers. Allegedly.

[MrsBodger]

You're right, I know.

It's just upsetting to believe this of someone I liked and respected.

[Rooners]

I am finding it hard to imagine how a downloaded image could be mistaken, it's either there or it isn't.

[JakeBullet]

I am gutted, I'll be honest...I am. This is one of my childhood heroes, a man I met several times and who is lovely to talk to. His wife is lovely too and I am having a hard time reconciling that with a man who might be guilty of these charges.

I said on the other thread and will say here that there appears to have been a significant period of time where young girls were seen as "fair game" by many celebs. It isn't right and now the chickens are definitely coming home to roost.

I am wondering how many more are waiting to be discovered

[RustyBear]

The images, whatever they were, could have been on his computer for ages and been copied with other stuff to a new one last year. The 'Date created' would be the day it was copied and, though other dates may or may not be retrievable, it may be that that is the date needed/used for a possible prosecution.

I'm not putting that forward as any kind of excuse or condemnation, just a possible reason why the date could be recent. There are of course other possibilities.

[Rooners]

Oh Rusty that makes sense - well to a luddite it makes sense anyway!

Jake I know - somewhere in my collection of papers I have a lovely picture of him and his wife and their daughter, I remember a RT interview with him, as well. He seemed so great. I remember wishing our family was like that.

[AKissIsNotAContract]

I'm a bit shocked at some of the comments on here. Just because someone looks and acts like a kind old grandad doesn't mean they aren't a child abuser. No wonder children are still not believed when these kinds of attitudes exist.

[MrsBodger]

I think most of the comments you're referring to were just people expressing their shock and sadness, because Rolf always seemed such a great guy.

I don't think anyone's saying that it can't be true, just how awful it is if it is, because we liked him.

[SPBisResisting]

I agree AKiss. It's one thing to express shock but people do seem to be grasping at any excuse/circumstances, while decalring the JS always seemed a bit dodgy.
If any good comes out of this, it's hopefully to drive it home that you simply cannot tell

[Enb76]

He's not proven guilty yet. I do find this all a bit of a witch hunt. I feel desperately sorry for his wife. I hope these charges come to nothing but whether they do or not it's a man's life and legacy ruined.

[SPBisResisting]

Why do you hope that? I hope they establish the truth

[SinisterSal]

A witch hunt? you do know there are no such things as witches. but child abusers are real.

[TheGirlFromIpanema]

After the thread that got deleted yesterday about this, I have to say I am unfortunately NOT shocked at some of the comments on this thread akiss.

I discovered to my quiet horror that there are regular posters who express disbelief of who are rapists/victims based solely on the look of that person

This thread is only showing small glimpses of what some stupid people will be thinking imo.

[Feenie]

It just occurs to me that a man who is 80 odd might be doing things as a result of a loss of cognitive function, more likely than a man in his 50s say.

You could just have given his defence team an idea to work with there - if it hadn't occurred to them already. You just don't know, do you?

Staggered as always by the sheer numbers of MNers who either have no idea or don't care that their posts could be prejudicial to a fair trial.

[eatyourveg]

It is horrible AKiss but I would like to think we should all go by the innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt philosophy.

[AKissIsNotAContract]

I think most of the comments you're referring to were just people expressing their shock and sadness, because Rolf always seemed such a great guy

No. I'm referring to comment like I wasn't surprised by Jimmy Savile because he always looked a bit dodgy, but not Rolf, he looks like a kind old grandad. FFS you can't tell by appearances

[AKissIsNotAContract]

This is the same disbelief that kids experienced when trying to tell people they were being abused by a priest 'oh no not a priest how can you say such a thing about a religious man'. Have people learnt nothing from the past.