Convicted paedophile Rolf Harris has already been cremated in private ceremony
Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris has been cremated in a secret ceremony after his death from cancer aged 93.
The family favourite-turned convicted child sex offender died in his £7 million mansion on May 10.
His death certificate was registered today, confirming he died of neck cancer and “frailty of old age”.
Shortly afterwards his family released a statement via Harris’s solicitor, saying: “Rolf Harris recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest.
“They ask that you respect their privacy. No further comment will be made.”
Rolf Harris is being sued over accusations he molested 10-year-old girl
Harris died just days before a documentary aired on ITVX named Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Site, in which victims waived their right to anonymity to reveal how the pervert humiliated young girls and sexually assaulted women over decades of his life.
The fallen TV star was diagnosed with neck cancer last year, having been freed from prison in 2017.
Convicted peadophile Rolf Harris' family had a secret funeral for the disgraced TV star (PA)
Rolf Harris' death certificate confirms he died of neck cancer and old age (PA)He was convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of indecent assault on four girls.
They included an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter’s friend over 16 years.
His biographer William Merritt told the Mirror he had spoken to Harris at the start of the year and that he had appeared to be on the mend after surgery.
But neighbours said an influx of care workers were seen entering evil Harris’s house one week before he died.
On May 10 a funeral director’s van was spotted at his home, prompting days of speculation about his ill health.
His death was registered at Maidenhead Registry Office by former personal assistant Lisa Ratcliff, who spends her days at Harris’s pad.
The ex entertainer's death was registered by his personal assistant (Getty Images)In the UK, a death legally has to be registered after five days. But family can bury or cremate a body with an interim certificate from a coroner before registering the death.
Another of the shamed artist’s victims was Karen Gardner, 61, who spoke during the ITVX documentary.
Rolf Harris now - 'gravely sick and under 24-hour care' amid fresh abuse claims
She was a bag carrier on TV show Star Games in 1977 when vile Harris assaulted her three times in the space of 35 minutes.
Then 48, Harris told a 16-year-old Karen “you’re irresistible”.
As news of the paedophile’s death broke today, Karen pointed to a statement she had made one day earlier in the aftermath of the documentary.
In that, she said: “Very few of us escape the impact of evil people.
Harris died before an ITV documentary on his abuse aired (Getty Images)“What we have to do is expose them, share and stand together to dilute the pain. For me it was #rolfharris but he inflicted much worse on other girls.”
Harris was released on licence from HMP Stafford on May 19 2017, less than three years after his sentence began.
But the Mirror revealed in 2019 that Harris had walked into a school playground close to his home, having to be escorted off by the headteacher.
Cops had to remind the artist of his licence conditions.
Neighbours in Harris’s exclusive neighbourhood had confirmed his death to the Mirror shortly after he passed away but his family had refused to comment.
Despite his vile acts and convictions, many of his wealthy neighbours still stand by Harris.
Rolf Harris was was convicted of a string of indecent assaults in June 2014 (GETTY)A residents’ WhatsApp group for members of the estate’s Fisheries Residents’ Association, seen by the Mirror, wished Rolf “RIP” in messages.
One neighbour told the Mirror immediately after his death: “People around here were very conscious of what happened last time (when the Mirror revealed Rolf had walked into a local schoolyard) so they wanted it to remain quiet until all the members of his family and close friends learned about it.
“I know he has been ill for some time.
“He used to be out in his garden from time to time.”
She said he was the “life and soul” of residents’ street parties. Rolf’s wife Alwen is believed to still be in the home and bedridden with illness.
Their daughter Bindi, 59, refused to comment when approached by media last week.
Before his death Harris was being sued by an alleged victim who claims the disgraced paedophile sexually assaulted her at an Australian adventure camp when she was 10- years-old and in foster care, in 1982.
Before his death, he was being sued over allegations of a sexual assault (Getty Images)She says after one of Harris’s performances, she and other children were introduced to him.
The woman said she had spilt wax on her dress and was trying to pick it off when Harris offered to help.
“That’s when he said he could help me get the wax off,” the woman said in her claim. “It started off helpful.”
But the exchange quickly became sinister and sick Harris dragged her onto his lap and moved his hands up her leg and under her skirt, before he sexually assaulted her.
“I remember feeling petrified, terrified and panicked,” she said.
She said she tried to call and scream before she ran away from Harris.
Harris required round-the-clock care before his death (Press Association)After being diagnosed with neck cancer, Harris was unable to talk or eat and required round the clock care.
He was said to have "gurgled" when he talked and was largely confined to a wheelchair.
His biographer William Merritt told the Mirror he last spoke to him at the start of the year.
"He had got over the neck cancer, I thought. He was being fed through a tube for a while.
"The last time I spoke to him he seemed to have got through it and was recovering.
"But he was under 24-hour care and his wife is also very ill with dementia."
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