Rolf Harris trial: Jury retires to consider verdicts

Jurors in the trial of veteran performer Rolf Harris have retired to consider their verdicts.

The 84-year-old is accused of a string of 12 indecent assaults on four women between 1968 and 1986, all of which he denies.

Rolf Harris' elder brother today told a court that claims the entertainer groped a make-up artist were "ridiculous".

The former Animal Hospital presenter faces 12 counts of indecent assault on four women between 1968 and 1986.

The make-up artist who claims he groped her has given evidence as a prosecution witness, but is not named in the charges.

She said the incident with Mr Harris happened when he was making a programme in Australia in the mid-1980s.

Mr Harris' brother Bruce, 90, gave his evidence to Southwark Crown Court via videolink from Australia.

Asked about the claims that his younger brother had put his hands in the make-up artist's shorts, Mr Harris said: "That's ridiculous. He would never do that and I wouldn't let him do that, and he knew I wouldn't let him do that. That's just not possible."

Rosemarie Ford, a former Generation Game host, today gave evidence at the trial of veteran TV star Rolf Harris, telling the court the 84-year-old had "never behaved inappropriately."

Ford, who worked with Harris on the popular quiz show, as well as Cat Crazy and Rolf's Amazing World of Animals in the 1990s, said: "Rolf was a total professional. He was a delight to work with and easy to be with."

The 52-year-old, who is married to actor Robert Lindsay, said he had "absolutely never" behaved inappropriately.

"I have obviously been in and around the business a long time and you learn to recognise, in the area I'm from, when people do have a inappropriate manner and I never saw that," she told the court.

"There was never, ever any indication of anything sinister or inappropriate," she added.

Harris denies 12 counts of indecent assault between 1968 and 1986.

Rolf Harris was "a real softy", according to a friend of his daughter Bindi who testified at the entertainer's trial for indecent assault today.

Joanne Charles told Southwark Crown Court that Mr Harris' behaviour had been "affectionate" but not sexual.

"Because I had known him for so long, it was just like having my father put his arms around me and cuddle me," she said.

"He's lovely. He was gentle and kind and a real softy. He was very, very tactile," Ms Charles added.

Rolf Harris showed "no interest" in a girl he allegedly molested from the age of 13 and would "run away" when his daughter's teenage friends were together, London's Southwark Crown Court has heard.

Joanne Charles, a friend of the 84-year-old's daughter Bindi, said that when he gave her one of his bear hugs it was like her father embracing her.

Asked by Mr Harris' lawyer whether she remembered the entertainer ever showing any interest in the alleged victim, Ms Charles replied: "No, I don't."

"When we were all together, I think we were too loud and too giggly and Rolf used to run away from the noise and the giggling. I think he thought we were all a bit too giggly, silly."

Rolf Harris was forced to deny he deliberately lied to jurors at Southwark Crown court, after saying he had not visited Cambridge around the time one of alleged sexual assaults took place.

Today Southwark Crown court was shown footage of Harris in Cambridge taking part in ITV programme "Star Games", in the 1970s, contradicting earlier claims he had not visited the city until three or four years ago.

Read: Prosecution claims footage contradicts Rolf Harris

The entertainer denies 12 counts of indecent assault, as UK Editor Lucy Manning reports.

More: Harris denies 'deliberately lying' over Cambridge visit

Rolf Harris said he had forgotten appearing in a TV game show filmed in Cambridge in 1978, denying claims he had deliberately lied to the jury in is evidence last week.

Today the jury was shown footage of the star appearing in a TV show Star Games filmed in Cambridge, despite Harris saying he had not visited the city until three or four years ago.

Read more: Harris daughter 'shocked' at affair with alleged victim

Rolf Harris's daughter Bindi became emotional in court today as she described the "utter shock" of discovering her father had an affair with one of her friends.

She told the court her friend had revealed to her that she had a consensual affair with her father from the age of 18 or 19.

But she said the alleged victim never told her that her first sexual encounter with Harris was when she was 13, and dismissed claims that the friend was assaulted by her father was "sort of laughable" and "ridiculous."

More: Harris daughter 'bestest friends' with alleged victim

She said:

"It was just horrible. It felt like the whole world had changed in an instant."

Rolf Harris's daughter Bindi Nicholls described how she and one of her father's alleged victims were "absolute bestest friends" as children.

She said the pair "literally were stuck together like glue" when they went on holiday together.

The court heard that the first alleged victim, who has accused Harris of seven counts of indecent assault, claims she was first assaulted by Harris in her hotel room during that holiday, and claims he assaulted her as he wrapped a towel around her on the beach.

Mrs Nicholls said he friend was "incredibly independent" and there was "no way" anyone would dry her down. She said:

"You put towels round people who are little when they come out of the water.

It would be strange, really odd, my dad wouldn't do that anyway. I can't see that happening, not at all."

"My dad doesn't like going on the beach anyway, so I can't imagine him even being on the beach. He hates sunbathing."

Read: Harris daughter's tears over moving away from friend

ITV News' UK Editor Lucy Manning is in court: