Rolf Harris Loses Hero Status In Australia

He may have left in the 1950s but Australians were fiercely proud of Rolf Harris.

Now they are having to get to grips with the fact that the multi-talented family entertainer is also a sexual predator of young women and girls.

He is known as "the boy from Bassendean" by locals from the Perth suburb where he grew up.

Now they are erasing all evidence of him.

There is talk that a plaque in his honour is to be dug up and that he is likely to be stripped of his freeman of the town title.

Harris leaves court after the jury delivered their guilty verdicts

They have taken down a portrait of him in the local council chamber and will hold a meeting about removing his artwork too.

John Gangell, the mayor of Bassendean, told Sky News: "You can't rewrite the history books. This is a heinous crime and we will not tolerate this sort of behaviour."

Mr Gangell met Harris on one of his many trips back to Australia but as he watched him sign autographs for local children, he never suspected he had a dark side.

"Rolf's association with the town of Bassendean and his hero status are over," he said.

"His profile will be stripped from here."

Louise Anton claims she was assaulted by Harris more than a decade ago

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott also said he felt "gutted and dismayed" following Harris' conviction.

"It's just sad and tragic that this person who was admired seems to have been a perpetrator," he said.

In the Australian media over recent weeks, a number of women have come forward with fresh allegations against Harris of sexual assault - claims which have not been reported in the UK for fear of prejudicing the trial.

A police photograph of Harris taken after his arrest

Newspapers reassured readers Down Under that those printed reports would not be published on the internet, therefore ensuring jurors did not see them.

The new abuse allegations may now see charges and prosecutions brought against Harris in Australia.

Louise Anton, who lives in Perth, said she was molested by Harris at a function in Australia in 2001.

"What goes around comes around," she said in response to the guilty verdicts.

"I'm not into revenge or tit-for-tat but he's spoiled so many lives.

"It happened to me as an older women but when you talk in the realm of children, that's just not on.

"We need to throw the book at people like that."

Hetty Johnston, who founded Bravehearts, an Australian organisation which helps victims of, and aims to stop, child sexual abuse, told Channel 9 people had contacted her about Harris.

"If the people I've spoken to over many years come forward, there's every chance he'll face charges," she said.

"We need the victims to come forward."

Ms Johnston said "certain information" was given to police but warned detectives "can't do anything with it unless people come forward".

"It doesn't matter who you are in this country, if you've hurt a child you're going to go down for it because people are speaking up," she added.

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