Harris, 83, was already facing 13 child sex offences, dating
back to the 1980s, as part of an investigation that has led to
the arrest of more than a dozen celebrities.
Prosecutors said the new counts relate to alleged offences
against three females, one age 7 or 8 in 1968 or 1969,
one age 14 in 1975, and one age 19 in 1984.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the alleged offences related
to one existing complainant and two new complainants.
Harris had already appeared in court to face nine counts of
indecent assault related to two girls under 16 in the 1980s
and four counts of making indecent images of a child last year.
Harris, who has lived in Britain for over 50 years, is due to
appear in court in London to enter a plea on Jan. 14 and a
trial date is set for April 30.
His lawyer was not immediately available for comment following
news of the new charges but has indicated that he intends to
plead not guilty to all charges.
Harris was arrested in March by British police investigating
allegations of child sexual abuse as part of an investigation
triggered by revelations that the late BBC TV host Jimmy Savile
was a prolific child sex abuser.
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Harris has been a family favorite in Australia and
Britain for more than 50 years, hosting TV shows and producing chart
hits including "Two Little Boys" and "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport"
while playing the didgeridoo and his own invention, the wobble
board.
The child abuse investigation, called Operation Yewtree, was set up
after it emerged following Savile's death in 2011 that the TV star
of the 1970s and 1980s committed sex crimes on an unprecedented
scale over six decades.
The operation developed three strands: one looking at Savile, a
second at allegations against "Savile and others," and a third on
complaints arising against people unconnected to Savile. Harris fell
into the third category.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith; editing
by Alison Williams)
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