Disgraced Sydenham entertainer Rolf Harris has lost the first round of his bid to appeal against his convictions for a string of indecent assaults.

A spokesman for the Judicial Office confirmed today that a judge has refused his application for permission to appeal.

But it is still open to the 84-year-old to renew the application before three judges at the Court of Appeal.

The artist and musician was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London's Southwark Crown Court on June 30 - one on 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. Some of the offences were committed while he was still living in Sydenham.

The appeal move was refused by a single judge considering the application on the case papers.

Harris, a family favourite for decades, was finally unmasked during his trial as a predator who was fixated with under-age girls.

Jurors were told that his 16-year campaign of sex abuse against his daughter's friend ''haunted'' her and made her abandon her dreams as he continued to be adored by millions of fans worldwide.

His fall from grace was underlined as he was stripped of a Bafta fellowship and accolades in his native Australia were removed.

Harris was jailed for five years and nine months for the sex abuse, meaning he is due to serve just under three years for the crimes, which took place between 1968 and 1986.