Sydenham entertainer Rolf Harris has been charged with seven counts of indecent assault involving victims as young as 12, the Crown Prosecution Service says.

The new charges which relate to alleged offences between 1971 and 2004 come as part of the investigation under Operation Yewtree.

At the time of the alleged offences the seven victims were aged between 12 and 27-years-old.

A spokesman for the CPS said: "Having completed our review in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged with seven counts of indecent assault.

"The alleged offences date from 1971 to 2004 and relate to seven complainants aged between 12 and 27 at the time of the alleged offending."

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The 85-year-old, who is currently serving a prison sentence at HMP Stafford, was today, February 12, charged with the following offences:

- Indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 years between July 10 and 11, 1971

- Indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 years between January 1, and December 31, 1977

- Indecent assault on a woman aged 16 years or over on September 17, 1977

- Indecent assault on a woman aged 16 years or over between June 1, 1978 and July 31, 1978

- Indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 years on December 31, 1983

- Indecent assault on a woman aged 16 years or over between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2002

- Indecent assault on a woman aged 16 years or over between April, 27 2004 and April, 30 2004.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 17 March.