Rolf Harris denies all charges

Accused... Rolf Harris had not commented on the allegations directly since he was first named in the press in April. Source: Getty Images

ENTERTAINER Rolf Harris has appeared in a London court to plead his innocence on 12 charges related to sexual offences spanning almost 20 years including the assault of a seven-year-old girl.

The 83-year-old Australian dressed in a smart navy suit and red tie stood in the dock of Court 9 of Southwark Crown Court in London to plead not guilty to each of the charges related to alleged indecent assaults of four girls between 1968 to 1986.

He is charged with a further four offences of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012 but it yet to be arraigned on those.

For the first time the court heard some detail of the alleged offences including the nature of the assaults which included digital penetration and oral sex of a 15 year-old girl between April 1980 to April 1981 and touching that girl on the breasts and genitalia again about four years later when she was 19 years old.

Support base ... Rolf Harris was flanked by family and friends at today's court appearance.

He was also charged with three counts of indecent assault including one of digital penetration of a 14-year-old girl on May 31, 1986, indecently touching another girl in 1968 when she seven or eight and one count of rubbing the buttocks of a 14-year-old between January 1975 and January 1976.

The identity of the women cannot be revealed for legal reasons.

As each charge was read out, the entertainer clearly declared "not guilty" when asked how he pled. He was supported in court by about a dozen family members and supporters including his wife Alwen Hughes and daughter Bindi. The group was escorted into court by a private security detail.

Court date... Artist and television personality Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Harris hummed to himself as he entered the court building, on the banks of the River Thames, pushing his wife in a wheelchair.

He looked healthier than he did in his previous court appearance where he appeared to be frail and struggle to take his seat.

During the almost one-hour hearing he nodded assurances to family and friends.

Prosecutor Sasha Wass told the court the four charges relating to indecent photographs of a child allegedly found on Harris' computer were still being analysed by experts engaged by the defence counsel who suggested these charges may be dismissed at a later stage.

Long career... British-based Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris stands with his portrait of the Queen.

There are to be at least two pre-trial hearings before the trial proper starts on April 30. His bail conditions remained the same including that he not approach the scheduled 11 witnesses directly or indirectly and stay at the home address he previously gave to the court unless he otherwise notifies the court.

There was about half an hour of legal argument related to how the case could be reported at these early stages; such was the interest the hearing was a ticketed event with 30 media able to enter the court room but double that number of camera crews and other media outside behind a police cordon and erected steel barriers.

Justice Nigel Sweeney invited media representatives from both the UK and Australia to speak to the open court on issues related to reportage of certain facts. News Corporation Australia spoke for the Australian media on laws related to jurisdiction.

Sticking together ... Rolf Harris pushing his wife outside the court.

Justice Sweeney briefly adjourned the hearing to check what was already being published on the internet. He returned to dismiss a request by defence counsel for some aspects not to be reported at this time, since they were already "emblazoned" across the net. He ruled alleged offences contained in the charges could be reported together with the fact Harris had yet to be arraigned on the four other charges.

The Australian artist, musician and television presenter was arrested last year by Scotland Yard officers working on Operation Yewtree, the British national investigation launched after abuse claims were made against entertainer Jimmy Savile.

There were three strands to Yewtree; those related directly to the actions of the now deceased Savile, actions of those connected to Savile and "others" which emerged during the course of the investigation. Harris was arrested by officers from the latter strand and there is no connection between the two men or any other cases related to Savile.

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