Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris is reportedly “gravely sick”, his friend has said.
The convicted sex offender, 92, is no longer able to speak, according to Australian news outlets including Herald Sun and Telegraph Australia.
TV star Rolf – who is Australian but is now thought to live in Berkshire – has rarely been seen in public after serving time in jail for 12 indecent assaults and is said to spend most of his time at home with his wife Alwen.
READ MORE: Rolf Harris indecent assault conviction overturned
Author William Merritt, who wrote an in-depth book behind the Rolf Harris trials from the defence team, has confirmed the star is “gravely sick”.
(Image: Getty Images)
He told the Mirror: “As far as his health goes, yes, he is very ill. But, Rolf keeps going.”
It comes after a neighbour has claimed that carers and nurses who give him around-the-clock care have been coming and going from the house.
Rolf was a much-loved artist and musician for many years, with a string of hit songs and TV shows including Rolf’s Cartoon Club and Animal Hospital.
(Image: DLT Entertainment UK Ltd)
However, it all ended in 2014 when he was convicted on 12 assault charges against four girls between 1968 and 1986, although one of those charges was later overturned.
He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison and was released in 2017.
In 2016, Rolf was charged in relation to new, unconnected, historic allegations of indecent assault.
(Image: Getty Images)
However, he was cleared of some of the charges. And a jury was unable to reach verdicts on the others, so he was cleared of those too.
“I feel no sense of victory, only relief,” he said in a statement at the time.
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He added: “I’m 87 years old, my wife is in ill health and we simply want to spend our remaining time together in peace.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
