Rolf Harris removed from grounds of Berkshire primary school
Probation officials to investigate reports disgraced star smiled and waved at pupils after straying onto school grounds
Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris is under investigation by police and probation officials after it was revealed he had entered the grounds of a primary school and waved at pupils.
The 88-year-old, who was released from prison on licence in May 2017 after serving three years for indecent assaults on children, was spotted at Oldfield Primary School, near his home in Maidenhead, on Tuesday afternoon.
A photo taken by a passer-by appears to show Harris inside the perimeter fence of the school, with children visible in a classroom behind him.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The convicted child molester “was seen waving at children before the headteacher told him to leave”, reports the Daily Mirror, which broke the story.
Headteacher Richard Jarrett told the newspaper that Harris was talking to a sculptor working inside the grounds of the school.
“He must have seen him and come into the school area,” Jarrett said. “He explained what he was doing - that he was getting some wood from the sculptor. I said, ‘You need to go.’”
He stressed that Harris left when asked and “had no access to the children whatsoever” during his brief foray onto the school grounds.
The school said that the incident had been reported to Thames Valley Police “as a precaution”.
Police confirmed that school officials contacted them at 3.15pm on Tuesday. “An officer attended the scene but no offence was committed. No arrests were made,” the force said in a statement.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman told Sky News that the department was “looking into” whether the incident constituted a breach of Harris’ licence conditions as a released sex offender, and would take “appropriate action”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?
Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
By The Week Staff Published