Blind woman tells court Rolf Harris ‘groped’ her at hospital

A BLIND and disabled woman has told a UK court that Rolf Harris “pounced” on her “like prey” at a London hospital back in the 1970s.

Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris arriving at Southwark Crown Court in London on July 4, 2014. Picture: AFP / Niklas Hallen

A BLIND and disabled woman forcibly bent back the fingers of Rolf Harris to stop him groping and “slobbering” all over her at a London hospital, a court has heard.

The woman, who was 27 at the time of the alleged incident in 1977, is one of seven complainants who have accused Harris of indecently assaulting them between 1971 and 2004 when they were aged between 12 and 42.

The 86-year-old entertainer is facing a six-week jury trial in London’s Southwark Crown Court on those charges.

On Monday the court heard evidence from a blind woman, now aged in her 60s, that Harris indecently assaulted her at a London hospital in September 1977. The jury heard her videotaped statement to police in July 2014 after she took her complaint to authorities.

The woman said she was in a small room at the hospital when Harris was visiting to do a radio show.

She said Harris walked in and said: “Has anyone told you what a good looking woman you are?” She said Harris then crouched down behind her and started kissing her on her neck. “I could feel the hot air from his nostrils,” the woman said.

She said she could feel Harris’s beard tickling her as he started “slobbering all over me”.

The woman said she told Harris to “get off” but he told her she was “gorgeous” then put one hand up her skirt and another under her bottom.

She said Harris was asking, “Well, don’t you like this then?”

“No one comes up and grovels over my body, now back off,” she replied.

The woman said Harris told her, “I’m just a touchy, feely sort of bloke.” She said she felt trapped and started to thrash her head around to stop Harris kissing her neck.

She said Harris then took off her dark glasses, saying he wanted to see her face before putting his hands on her breasts and squeezing her nipples between his fingers.

The woman said she warned Harris she would get hold of his fingers and prise them off, and hurt him in the process.

“I had a lot of strength in my hands because I walk with sticks,” she said. “I bent his fingers right back with all my strength and he said, ‘Ouch that hurts’, and I said, ‘I’m glad it did and back off.’”

Rolf Harris leaves court with his wife Alwen Hughes after being found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges in June, 2014. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

The woman said at that point her loud protest was heard and a man entered to ask if everything was alright, and the incident came to an end.

She said she hadn’t taken a complaint to police earlier because she thought she wouldn’t be believed over Harris, who she had admired as a television entertainer and celebrity.

Harris, wearing a suit and tie, watched proceedings by video-link from a room at Stafford Prison where he is serving time after being convicted of similar offences in 2014.

Further accusations against Harris later emerged, prompting the woman to take her complaint to police.

“The way he took advantage of someone who was totally blind was absolutely appalling ... it’s as degrading as it gets,” she told police on the tape. “I felt absolutely invaded by this man.”

The trial continues.