Rolf Harris Linked To
Sex Scandal

The arrest of Rolf Harris came after months of speculation that the Australian-born entertainer had been questioned by police from “Operation Yewtree,” which was set up to investigate the Jimmy Savile sex scandal.

The Sun published details of the entertainer’s arrest on suspicion of sex offences, information that had appeared on websites and social media since Harris was questioned under caution in November.

The BBC, which gave the 83-year old much of his television work, now reports that Harris was arrested March 28 and bailed until May.

He has not been charged and vigorously denies the allegations.

The investigation into Harris, who is based in the UK, isn’t believed to be directly related to the one into Savile, the former DJ and “Top Of The Pops” presenter, whose hundreds of cases of sex abuse didn’t come to light until after his death in 2011.

The Sun’s decision to publish details of Harris’s arrest – which The Guardian described as “an open secret in Fleet Street newsrooms” – appears to have come despite his lawyers’ efforts to keep the lid on it.

In January the story appeared on the Guido Fawkes blog, written by right-wing political blogger Paul Staines. Two months later, comedian Russell Brand tweeted a reference to it.

Harris was born in Australia in 1930 and moved to the UK at the age of 21. He attended art school but dropped out to start drawing on children’s TV programmes, before hosting “Cartoon Time.”

It began a successful TV and musical career, which included such singles as “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport,” “Sun Arise” and “Two Little Boys,” which went to No. 1 in 1969.

His career led to him receiving such honours as an Order of the British Empire (OBE) a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

In 2005, he was commissioned to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for her 80th birthday.

Operation Yewtree, which was set up in October, has already led to police questioning a number of celebrities including comedians Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, former chart-topping singer Gary Glitter, BBC soccer reporter Stuart Hall and former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis.

Starr, Davidson and Travis all deny any wrongdoing.