Rolf Harris loses first appeal against his convinction

Rolf Harris has lost the first appeal against his conviction for assault.

The 84-year-old disgraced entertainer was jailed in July for nearly six years for 12 indecent assaults on four girls, including one aged just seven or eight.

The Judicial Office confirmed a judge had refused Rolf Harris’ application for permission to appeal, lodged in August.

Rolf Harris can still renew the application before three judges at the Court of Appeal.

The artist, TV presenter and musician was convicted at London’s Southwark Crown Court in June.

Rolf Harris was jailed for five years and nine months for the offences, which took place between 1968 and 1986.

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

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

Rolf Harris’s 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.