Rolf Harris dies: Paedo poses with private detective in one of the final photos taken of him

Propped up in a chair, the paedophile struck a jolly figure while battling neck cancer in one of the final pictures of him taken almost a year ago to the day.

Almost a year ago to the day, a jubilant Rolf Harris is pictured sitting at his dining table promoting his latest book about the assault trials before his health took a downward turn.

Propped up in a chair, the paedophile struck a jolly figure while battling neck cancer in one of the final pictures of him at his multi-million pound home in Berkshire, on the banks of the River Thames in South West England.

That day in May 2022, the TV star had received a published copy of his book by private detective William Merritt, hired by Harris to investigate the backgrounds of women who claimed they were sexually assaulted by him.

Private investigator William Merritt, left, with Rolf Harris in May 2022. Picture: Supplied

“He could barely talk then and was very sick, he gave me a thumbs up and wrote on a piece of paper, ‘it’s bloody great mate, I love it, finally people will know the truth,’” Mr Merritt who took two years to research the book Rolf Harris: The Defence Team’s Special Investigator Reveals the Truth Behind the Trials, said.

Harris photographed in April 2022 after being diagnosed with cancer. Picture: Mega Agency]

Mr Merritt is pictured congratulating the once lauded British national treasure, along with Harris’ former PA Lisa Ratcliff, friend Mike Kelly and his former defence barrister KC Stephen Vullo.

Harris had lived as a near-recluse since being freed from jail in 2017, accompanied only by his wife Alwen, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease- and his carers.

Harris pictured on June 15, 2022, looking frail whilst being pushed by his daughter Bindi in a wheelchair. Picture: SplashNews.com

Soon after his release, his health took a severe turn for the worse, with the disgraced former entertainer suffering from throat cancer and fed by a tube.

The convicted paedophile has not spoken publicly since his release from Stafford Prison in 2017. Harris had been found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault, with one of those convictions later overturned on appeal.

At sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Sweeney told the veteran entertainer: “You have shown no remorse for your crimes at all.”

HARRIS BEFORE HIS DOWNFALL

He was once lauded as the ultimate entertainer, and possible never more so than in June 2010 when Rolf Harris, at the peak of his resurgence, kicked off the Glastonbury Festival’s 40th anniversary.

The then 80-year-old prompted smiles and dancing among a huge crowd who had braved the early start to catch his eclectic “set full of wobble boards and antipodean charm”, according to The Mirror.

There were plenty of his favourite songs including the poignant Two Little Boys, Waltzing Matilda and Stairway to Heaven – the version he recorded for Andrew Denton’s Money or The Gun tonight show which introduced him to this new generation of fans.

Harris led his fans in chants of “There’s only one Rolf Harris”. It wasn’t his first time on the iconic music festival’s stage – he went on to notch up six performances.

Rolf Harris performs at the Glastonbury Festival. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian-born entertainer was a family favourite for decades, before his downfall.

His iconic hits – Tie me Kangaroo Down, Sport, Six White Boomers and Jake the Peg were sung by school kids, and their families, often as they grabbed their nearest bit of cardboard to emulate his wobble board.

Australian entertainer Rolf Harris holding a gingerbread man during a television appearance, London, 1969. Picture: Getty Images

Rolf Harris has died, aged 93. Picture: David Redfern/Redferns

He spent more than five decades on British TV, garnering an MBE, OBE and CBE, after starting with UK’s Playbox in the ‘50s, before headlining his own program, The Rolf Harris Show, for seven years.

It was here that he made his mark with his famous “can you guess what it is yet?” catchphrase, in which he would invite viewers to deduce what he was painting. Harris took that line through Rolf’s Cartoon Time, Rolf’s Cartoon Club and various This Is Your Life appearances.

Rolf Harris drawing caricatures. Picture: Getty Images

Rolf Harris with his wife Alwen and their daughter Bindi at home, UK, in September 1973. Picture: Getty Images

Those painting skills saw him become the face of British Paints on TV commercials for years from the ’70s which ended with his slogan – “Trust British paints – sure can!”

In the 90s, he found himself appealing to a whole new generation of fans after appearing on Channel 4’s late-night show The Word. Soon after he had another Top 10 hit with his aforementioned cover version of Stairway to Heaven.

In his later years, Harris became known for fronting animal-themed shows, kicking off with BBC’s Animal Hospital, eventually announcing it was “time to move on” at the completion of that series, which broke “the hearts of thousands of fans across the country”, according to the Radio Times.