Rolf Harris To Challenge Sex Offences Convictions

Rolf Harris To Challenge Sex Offences Convictions
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Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his convictions for a string of indecent assaults.

A spokesman for the Judicial Office confirmed that lawyers for the disgraced entertainer had lodged papers at the Court of Appeal this week.

The artist and musician was convicted of 12 indecent assaults on June 30 at Southwark Crown Court - one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse of his daughter's friend over 16 years.

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Rolf Harris was convicted of 12 indecent assaults in June

The court will now consider whether to grant permission for 84-year-old to continue with his appeal bid.

Harris, a family favourite for decades, was finally unmasked as a predator who was fixated with under-age girls during his trial, with jurors told how his 16-year campaign of sex abuse against his daughter's friend ''haunted'' her and made her abandon her dreams as he continued to be adored by millions of fans worldwide.

His fall from grace was underlined as he was stripped of a Bafta fellowship and accolades in his native Australia were removed, and he faces losing his prestigious CBE.

Rolf Harris Sex Probe
Britain Queen's Jubilee Concert(01 of14)
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Rolf Harris performs at the Queen's Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Monday, June 4, 2012. The concert is a part of four days of celebrations to mark the 60 year reign of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Rolf Harris(02 of14)
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Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris, left, accompanied by his niece Jenny, right, arrive at Southwark Crown Court, in London, Friday, July 4, 2014. Australian-born Harris, 84, is due to be sentenced after he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on four victims aged 19 or under between 1968 and 1986. Harris denied the charges. (AP Photo/Bogdan Maran) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Britain Rolf Harris(03 of14)
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Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris, center, accompanied by his niece Jenny, center right, and daughter Bindi, centre left, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced, in London, Friday, July 4, 2014. Australian-born Harris has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for a string of abuses against young girls. (AP Photo/Bogdan Maran) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Rolf Harris(04 of14)
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Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris, centre, accompanied by his wife Alwen, left, and daughter Bindi, right, leave the Southwark Crown Court in London, Monday, June 30, 2014. A jury Monday found Australian-born Harris guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault. The 84-year-old was convicted of indecent assault on four victims aged 19 or under between 1968 and 1986. Harris was a prominent British broadcaster for decades and once performed with the Beatles. He had denied the charges. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Rolf Harris(05 of14)
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Bindi Harris, daughter of veteran Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, Tuesday, June, 3, 2014. Rolf Harris is charged with indecently assaulting four girls between 1968 and 1986. Harris denies the charges. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Entertainer Rolf Harris Sentenced After Indecent Assault Trial(06 of14)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Artist and television personality Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court to face sentencing on 12 counts of indecent assault on July 4, 2014 in London, England. 84 -year-old entertainer Rolf Harris has been found guilty of indecently assaulting four girls between 1968 and 1986, he was arrested in March 2013 by police officers working on Operation Yewtree. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images) (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Rolf Harris' Hometown Reacts Strongly To Guilty Verdict(07 of14)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: A pedestrian walks past a footpath plaque commemorating Rolf Harris on St Georges Terrace on July 2, 2014 in Perth, Australia. Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on girls and women. Harris' photo was removed from Bassendean Council chambers as soon as he was charged. A plaque honouring him in Perth's CBD will be removed and his paintings are being taken down from his former school. Rolf Harris has also been stripped of the honour of being a Freeman for the town of Bassendean following his conviction. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Kane via Getty Images)
Rolf Harris' Hometown Reacts Strongly To Guilty Verdict(08 of14)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: Bassendean signage is pictured near Rolf Harris' family's former residence on July 2, 2014 in Bassendean, Australia. Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on girls and women. Harris' photo was removed from Bassendean Council chambers as soon as he was charged. A plaque honouring him in Perth's CBD will be removed and his paintings are being taken down from his former school. Rolf Harris has also been stripped of the honour of being a Freeman for the town of Bassendean following his conviction. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Kane via Getty Images)
Rolf Harris' Hometown Reacts Strongly To Guilty Verdict(09 of14)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: A footpath plaque commemorating Rolf Harris is pictured near the family's former residence on Bassendean Parade on July 2, 2014 in Bassendean, Australia. Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on girls and women. Harris' photo was removed from Bassendean Council chambers as soon as he was charged. A plaque honouring him in Perth's CBD will be removed and his paintings are being taken down from his former school. Rolf Harris has also been stripped of the honour of being a Freeman for the town of Bassendean following his conviction. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Kane via Getty Images)
Rolf Harris' Hometown Reacts Strongly To Guilty Verdict(10 of14)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: A footpath plaque commemorating Rolf Harris is pictured on St Georges Terrace on July 2, 2014 in Perth, Australia. Harris has been found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on girls and women. Harris' photo was removed from Bassendean Council chambers as soon as he was charged. A plaque honouring him in Perth's CBD will be removed and his paintings are being taken down from his former school. Rolf Harris has also been stripped of the honour of being a Freeman for the town of Bassendean following his conviction. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Kane via Getty Images)
Rolf Harris Found Guilty Of 12 Indecent Assault Charges(11 of14)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Jenny Hopkins speaks to media at Southwark Crown Court before artist and television personality Rolf Harris leaves court after being found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges at Southwark Crown Court after a seven week trial on June 30 2014 in London, England. 84-year-old Rolf Harris who has been found guilty of indecently assaulting four girls between 1968 and 1986, was arrested in March 2013 by police officers working for Operation Yewtree. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images) (credit:Ben A. Pruchnie via Getty Images)
Britain Television Awards(12 of14)
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Australian entertainer Rolf Harris holds up the Fellowship Award after winning it at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Television Awards(13 of14)
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Australian entertainer Rolf Harris and his wife Alwen arrive for the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Glastonbury Festival(14 of14)
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Australian musician Rolf Harris performs on the main stage of Glastonbury Festival, in Glastonbury, England, Friday, June 25, 2010. The Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The performer's multi-million pound fortune is also at risk from potential compensation claims.

Harris was jailed for five years and nine months for the sex abuse, meaning that he is due to serve just under three years for the crimes, which spanned between 1968 and 1986.

Earlier this week the Attorney-General's Office confirmed that the sentence would not be referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright decided not to take action despite his office receiving 150 complaints about the leniency of Harris's sentence, of which he will serve half, although it only takes one complaint to trigger the review process.