Rolf Harris to appeal against assault conviction

Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his assault conviction, a spokesman for the Judicial Office says.

The 84-year-old entertainer was jailed in July for five years and nine months for 12 assaults.

The Judicial Office said his lawyers had lodged papers at the Court of Appeal.

A judge will now decide if his appeal bid should progress to a full hearing.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Jeremy Wright decided not to refer Rolf Harris’s sentence to the Court of Appeal despite 150 complaints over its “leniency”.

Jeremy Wright said he did not think judges would find it to be unduly lenient and increase it.

Rolf Harris, an artist, TV presenter and musician, was found guilty of all 12 assaults of which he was accused in his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

His victims included a young autograph hunter, two girls in their early teens and a friend of his daughter’s against whom he committed a catalogue of abuse over several years.

The offences took place between 1968 and 1986.

Rolf Harris has been stripped of a Bafta fellowship and accolades in his native Australia. He also faces losing his CBE.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed it has received “a number of allegations” about Rolf Harris since his conviction, which are being investigated.