Rolf Harris Letter: I Am Sickened By Myself

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Rolf Harris abused one of his daughter's friends on a motorway, in a theatre and in her family home while her parents were in another room, a court has heard.

The prosecution called the 84-year-old a "Jekyll And Hyde" character who thought he was "untouchable" because of his fame.

Harris listened via a hearing loop in the glass-fronted dock as the case against him was outlined by prosecutor Sasha Wass QC at Southwark Crown Court.

Ms Wass said: ''Mr Harris touched children and women alike in quite brazen circumstances. That may have been part of the excitement for him, knowing that he could get away with it.''

She added that once he was spotted inappropriately touching one of his victims.

"He just laughed and denied it," said Ms Wass. "Even when caught red-handed, he knew he was untouchable.''

The court heard that one victim, who is the subject of seven of the 12 counts, was on a holiday when Harris began abusing her in 1978 aged just 13.

Ms Wass said the victim had been ''in awe" of the defendant and went on to be "groomed like a pet" during 15 years of abuse.

Harris walks hand-in-hand with daughter Bindi (left) and wife Alwen

Further incidents allegedly took place in a swimming pool, at a theatre and on the M4.

On one occasion Harris is accused of assaulting the victim at her home while her parents were in another room.

''He never had a meaningful conversation with her," Ms Wass added. "She was just his little toy."

The girl was said to have turned to alcohol at the age of 14 as a result of what she claims happened - and is now a "full blown alcoholic".

She eventually told her family about the alleged abuse in 1997.

The court heard how Harris then wrote to her father admitting a sexual relationship but claiming there was no "rape, physical force or brutality". He added that he was in a "state of object (sic) self-loathing".

The prosecution likened this to Bill Clinton admitting he had smoked cannabis but claiming he did not inhale.

The alleged victim eventually wrote a letter to police in 2012, 18 years after the abuse ended. The court heard how the Jimmy Savile revelations caused her to reflect on her own circumstances.

The case has attracted intense media interest both in the UK and Australia

Miss Wass described Harris as having a "side to him" which meant he was sexually attracted to young girls.

"The prosecution doesn't for a moment suggest there is not a good, talented and kind side to Mr Harris," she said.

"But concealed behind this charming and amicable children's entertainer lay a man who exploited the very children who were drawn to him.

"His fame and reputation meant no one suspected or challenged his behaviour."

None of the alleged victims - who were aged between seven or eight and 19 - knew each other.

The court heard about one 'victim' who was 11 or 12 in 1969 when the indecent assault allegedly took place in Australia.

The woman claims Harris said "Come here, I want to be the first one to give you a tongue kiss" before grabbing her and sticking his tongue in her mouth.

Another woman who came forward was eight when, she claims, Harris touched her inappropriately after she asked him for an autograph in a community centre packed with children.

Harris denies all 12 charges against him. The trial continues.

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'Killer' Asian Hornet Could Threaten Honey Bees

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

A new "killer" hornet may soon threaten Britain's honey bees, it has been warned.

The Asian hornet has already been spotted in France and could be transported to the UK in food pallets or may even be able to fly across the Channel.

They are smaller than British hornets, with queens growing up to three centimetres long.

Their bodies are dark brown or black with a fine yellow band and their stings are up to a quarter of an inch long.

They hunt in packs and have a taste for honey bees, often targeting adults outside the hive or eating the offspring inside.

The honey bee population has declined rapidly in the last 60 years

Some experts claim they can kill up to 40 bees a day so if introduced into Britain, they could have a severe impact on the native honeybee population, which has been rapidly declining since the 1950s.

Tim Lovett from the British Beekeepers Association explained: "When bees are out foraging you'll find that the hornets will lurk around the front of the hive and try to bring down foragers as they come back to the hive.

"Having got them down on the ground they paralyse them and they will then cart them off to their own nests where they'll use them for feed for their own larvae."

Six people in France have died from anaphylactic shock after being stung by the hornets.

But Gavin Broad from the Natural History Museum says there is no need for people to worry.

An Asian hornet (left) next to a British hornet (right)

He said: "In terms of their sting it's no worse than any other hornet so if you're going to suffer from anaphylactic shock it's just as likely from as Asian hornet as from a native hornet."

The public is being urged not to kill any hornets that they find and posters are now being handed out to help people identify and report any sightings.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "There have been no confirmed sightings of Asian hornets in the UK - they are smaller than our own native hornets and are no more dangerous.

"We are aware of the potential impacts they could have on honey bees and have plans in place to eradicate them if they are identified.

"In Great Britain we would not expect Asian hornets to establish outside southern parts of England and Wales due to colder weather."

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Olympic Chiefs On 'Rio Games To London' Claim

Olympic bosses have been forced to deny claims London has been approached about hosting the 2016 Games instead of Rio because of major delays in preparations.

The Evening Standard newspaper said officials in the capital, which hosted the event in 2012, had been "secretly asked" whether they would be able to take over from Rio in the event building work was not finished in time.

It comes after John Coates, vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, described Brazil's preparations as "the worst I have experienced" and said Rio is further behind than Athens was before the 2004 Olympics.

Brazil will be the first South American country to host the Olympics

However, at a meeting of the Australian Olympic Committee in Sydney, Mr Coates said claims London could step in were "nonsense".

"There's absolutely no plan B," he said. "There's just absolutely no alternative of going back to another city. We'll work through this and we'll get to Brazil."

With two years to go before South America's first ever Olympic Games, Rio has come under increasing scrutiny over severe delays.

There is concern venues will not be ready in time for the 2016 Games

Last week, Mr Coates highlighted delays in construction and a lack of infrastructure, as well as the quality of the water in Guanabara Bay where many of the water events are due to be held, and said the "situation is critical on the ground".

Brazil has also come under fierce criticism from football's world governing body, FIFA, over long delays and worker deaths during construction of stadiums for the World Cup, which starts in June.

The Evening Standard report suggested London could share events with Glasgow, which is hosting the Commonwealth Games in July.

London's Olympic stadium is being converted for use by West Ham

However, moving the Games to Britain would involve huge logistical and financial challenges.

Many of the venues from the 2012 Olympics have been dismantled or converted for public use.

The Olympic Stadium is currently being revamped into a smaller venue that will be the new home of West Ham football club from the 2016-17 season.

The athletes' village, which housed more than 10,000 competitors in 2012, has been converted into private housing.

The London Games were widely lauded as a triumph for their organisation, including the opening ceremony, and athletic success, with Britain netting its biggest Olympic medal haul.

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Giro d'Italia Race Raises Hopes In N Ireland

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

The winner of the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia in Northern Ireland has said he has achieved "a dream come true" and thanked the crowds along the route for their "fantastic" support.

Svein Tuft described his Orica-GreenEdge team's performance along the 21.7km time trial course around Belfast as the "perfect ride".

While proudly wearing the pink jersey, the maglia rosa, the Canadian said: "It is a dream come true."

Tuft said he was impressed by the crowds, adding: "The entire course was lined four or five deep with people screaming and wearing pink, it was fantastic."

Stage one winner Svein Tuft celebrates

The Giro d'Italia is the second largest cycle race in the world and every second year, they stage the opening outside Italy.

With a global audience of 800 million, nowhere has been more grateful for the opportunity to create a new impression.

Opening stages include Parliament Buildings at Stormont, home of the devolved government, the Giant's Causeway and cathedral city of Armagh.

In towns along the route, election posters were replaced by pink bunting and balloons; one village dyed the sheep pink.

It reflects the colour of the newspaper behind the Italian race, contrasting the distinctive yellow of the Tour de France.

In a bid to win the leader's pink jersey, competitors were racing past loyalist murals on Belfast's Lower Newtownards Road.

On the opposite side of the road, pink bicycles had been attached to the railings of the local Presbyterian Church.

Rev Mervyn Gibson said: "There are people from all background, all denominations, all nationalities here. People from Wexford have been in the church, people from France, people from Australia, Roman Catholics, Protestants, we're not asking anyone where they're from, they're all welcome in east Belfast."

Martin McGuinness has welcomed the teams to Belfast

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, said the race gave people a glimpse of the future.

He said: "We love our colours in Belfast but sometimes our colours divide us. It's wonderful that the colour pink has united us. Sport has united the city. Sport has united the country. We need to build on the positive energy. We need to build confidence in Belfast and what Giro's doing is giving us real confidence in the future."

When bidding to host the Giro, the devolved government estimated that it would cost £4m but generate £12m in tourism.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness suspended their recent hostilities to welcome the teams to Belfast.

The Democratic Unionist Party Leader and his Sinn Fein partner in government had clashed over the arrest of Gerry Adams.

Tensions over flags, parades and the legacy of the past continue to cast a shadow over political progress made here.

The Giro d'Italia illustrates the potential if politicians can resolve these outstanding issues and bring peace over the finishing line.

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UK Soldier 'Posed With Dead Taliban Fighter'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

The RAF has launched a probe after photographs surfaced appearing to show a serviceman posing with a dead Taliban fighter.

The pictures were apparently taken in the wake of an attack by 15 insurgents on Camp Bastion, the main British base in Afghanistan, in September 2012.

The insurgents breached the perimeter of the base, triggering a battle involving a British RAF regiment and US marines.

Two of the marines and 14 Taliban fighters were killed in the firefight, and UK troops were also injured.

The two photographs appear to show at least one member of the RAF giving a thumbs-up sign as he kneels next to the body of a dead insurgent.

The photos were taken after an attack on Camp Bastion in 2012

It is unclear if it is the same serviceman in both of the photographs.

Sky News has learned that the individual or individuals belong to 51 Squadron.

An RAF source said he was making "no excuses" for the behaviour but said it was important to consider the context.

"This was a long, extensive firefight against a well-drilled, well-armed enemy who was trying to kill them," the source said.

He said it was an "unusual adrenaline fuelled situation" in which "foolish" things could happen.

Camp Bastion is the main British base in Afghanistan

The investigation will focus on whether the airman broke the rules by "mistreating" the enemy.

They may also be reprimanded for simply having and using photographic equipment.

Another photograph shows a burned-out plane in a hangar - six US Harrier jets were destroyed in the attack.

The images first appeared on the website Live Leak.

An RAF spokesman said: "The RAF is treating this incident extremely seriously and has launched a military police investigation.

"As this incident is subject to an ongoing investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Joanne Mariner, Director of Law and Policy at Amnesty International, said: "These pictures ... are appalling.

"They violate international humanitarian law standards, including common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the disrespectful and degrading treatment of the bodies of dead combatants.

"There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident; it is encouraging to learn that the UK military has instigated one."

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Stuart Hall Trial: Alleged Victim Taken Ill

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

An alleged rape victim under cross-examination in the trial of former broadcaster Stuart Hall has asked to leave court, saying she felt physically sick.

The woman held on to wooden panelling at Preston Crown Court as she left the building.

Earlier, she told the trial that she had kept quiet about being raped by the broadcaster partly for the sake of his wife, Hazel, and because he was a close family friend.

The woman claims she was raped and indecently assaulted over a period of three or four years from the age of twelve. 

Speaking from the witness box, she said: "When your life changes in a blink at such a young age there are certain things you decide to do as a human being and I made the choice. That is what I did for 36 years. I chose not to reveal it."

Under cross-examination, the woman insisted that she had given no thought to financial compensation and, in a terse exchange with Hall's barrister Crispin Aylett QC, said: "I find it very insulting at this time to be asked this question ... I have not thought about compensation and I can't give you any other answer. I find it very, very hurtful."

The judge, Mr Justice Turner, intervened, telling Mr Aylett: "You have your answer. You may not like it but you have an answer."

The woman, who is now in her forties, alleges that Hall first raped her against a wall "like a rag doll" when her parents were away for the weekend and she was cleaning out stables.

She claims she was repeatedly raped at other locations, including his dressing room at BBC studios in Manchester.

She told Preston Crown Court that she became compliant, saying: "I was a child, so young when this happened.

"I have had to cope with it ... it never leaves you. It's very difficult to spend time in his company but I have had to do it all my life ... I chose not to tell anybody. I didn't do anything. Because I didn't do anything, I had to carry on as normal."

She said she had never stopped thinking about Stuart Hall's wife and his family.

The veteran television presenter has admitted one charge of indecently assaulting the woman but denies 20 other charges of rape and indecent assault relating to her and another woman.

He is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a string of indecent assaults in a separate case last year.

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Runaway Rhea 'Shot Dead By Gamekeeper'

A runaway rhea called Chris who has been wandering around the countryside for more than a month has been shot dead, it has been reported.

The ostrich-like animal had become a common sight in the area surrounding Barkway Park Golf Club near Royston in Hertfordshire.

The female, who came from South America, escaped from the home of owner Joanna Clark, who gave up hope of getting her back.

Members of the public were warned not to approach the giant-clawed animal, which can reach speeds of 40mph.

The 6ft-tall bird met its end at the hands of a local gamekeeper, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Inspector Paul David of Hertfordshire Police told the paper he was "amazed" Chris had survived for so long.

"It would have been a real problem if it had wandered into the road and posed a traffic hazard," he said.

"We will have to notify the owner that the bird has been killed."

A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman has told Sky News the force is aware of the reports and is investigating.

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'Zombie Bank Accounts Cost Savers £4bn A Year'

Savers are losing more than £4bn pounds a year by having their money in poor-paying accounts, according to consumer group Which?

The group found more than a third of accounts closed to new customers, dubbed 'zombie accounts', paid 0.5% interest or less.

This compares with the best-paying Isa savings accounts which offer up to 2.75%.

Three-quarters of people surveyed thought banks did not do enough to help savers get a good deal.

Which? also found more than a third of people had not switched their main savings account because they did not think it would make a difference.

The group's analysis suggested there was a difference of £4.3bn a year between the amount savers would have received if they were all paid the average interest rate and the amount they would have received if they all had money in a top-paying account.

According to Which?, 82% of the 1,999 easy access savings accounts and cash Isas on the market in March were zombie accounts.

Nearly four in 10 (39%) of those accounts paid 0.5% interest or less and 16% paid 0.1% or less.

Which? said the savings market could be "confusing", with some accounts paying very different rates of interest despite having similar names.

It wants banks to move people's money into one default easy access or Isa account at the end of fixed terms.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "With many savers never switching because they don't think it will make a difference, savings providers should do more to help their customers get the best deal.

"They need to be clear about interest rates, let people know when bonus rates come to an end and make it easier for people to switch Isas."

Andrea Leadsom, the economic secretary to the Treasury, said: "The Chancellor announced a number of measures to help and support savers, notably increasing the cash Isa limit to £15,000, at this year's Budget.

"These changes will give savers more flexibility and choice."

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Stretched Nurses 'Struggling To Give Safe Care'

Patients in some NHS hospitals are receiving "unsafe and unsatisfactory" care because of staff shortages, a nursing chief has told Sky News.

Elderly patients are particularly at risk of being left in discomfort and distress, according to Dr Peter Carter, the chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing.

His warning comes as the National Institute For Health and Care Excellence (NICE) prepares to issue draft guidelines to hospitals, stating nurses should ideally be responsible for no more than eight patients at once.

Failing to meet this ratio puts patients at "increased risk of harm", it said.

One estimate is that 20,000 additional nurses could be needed to meet NICE's recommendations.

"There is a lot of very good care, but there are undoubtedly many clinical situations each day where nurses are really struggling to provide the level of safe and satisfactory care they would wish to do," Dr Carter told Sky News.

Dr Peter Carter says nurses are struggling to provide "safe" care

"Nurses tell us they often come off shifts knowing they've not provided the level of care they'd wish to.

"Patients are left in discomfort - sometimes they're incontinent and nurses are unable to change them for considerable periods of time, which adds to distress.

"That's the reality. It's not that the nurses don't care - just that there are insufficient numbers of them.

"We have copious examples, particularly on wards for older people, where you have one nurse for 12, 14 and sometimes 15 people."

Dr Carter welcomed NICE's guidelines but said sometimes even "one to eight" was not nearly enough.

"Research demonstrates that once you go over the one to eight (ratio), serious problems begin," he said.

"There are plenty of settings, (such as in) neo-natal and intensive care, where you need one to one."

NHS staffing levels have been criticised following the Mid Staffordshire scandal, which uncovered evidence of increased mortality rates and serious neglect.

NICE will issue final guidelines for adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals in England in July following a consultation.

Its deputy chief executive, Professor Gillian Leng, said: "We'll be issuing draft guidelines on Monday, providing advice on how hospitals should ensure nurse numbers on wards are appropriately tailored to the needs of patients.

"The advice is for hospital managers, the board, and nurses working on wards.

"We want to make sure patients receive effective, safe care.

"We've also set out some information about what needs to be monitored in terms of outcomes for patients who have falls or pressure ulcers, and what nurses need to keep track of on a day-by-day, hour-by-hour basis to make sure patients are being cared for effectively."

The Department of Health said administrative staff and managers had been cut since 2010 but there were 5,100 more nurses working on wards.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt added: "NICE's work on staffing is a major step forward.

"For the first time in its history, the NHS will have the evidence it needs to make sure that nurses are able to spend enough time with their patients."

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Weathermen Predict World Cup 'El' For England

England are used to getting their excuses in early before World Cups - and now it seems the weathermen are doing it for them.

Climate scientists at the University of Reading say there is a 60% chance of El Nino conditions in Brazil this summer.

They warned the phenomenon would "increase the risk of uncomfortably hot and dry conditions" during the tournament - a blow to European teams used to playing in cooler conditions, who have traditionally struggled in the searing heat of South American competitions.

The areas likely to be worst affected by El Nino are southern and eastern parts of Brazil, where England play their second and third group games.

Roy Hodgson's team face Uruguay in Sao Paulo on June 19 and Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte five days later.

Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, where England will play Costa Rica

"The venue for England's first game, Manaus, where they take on Italy, is in the tropical north of Brazil and is already likely to be very hot and humid, so conditions are unlikely to be made worse by El Nino," Dr Nick Klingaman, of the University of Reading, said.

"However, if players and coaching staff were hoping for milder and more favourable conditions for their remaining matches, it looks more likely they could be disappointed."

The average maximum temperature in Rio during the World Cup months is 25.5 degrees Celsius, with a record of 36.0.

On average, El Nino increases June and July temperatures near Rio de Janeiro by 0.9C.

Cloud cover would also be lost, increasing the likelihood of "heat-related fatigue", according to scientists.

El Nino refers to unusually warm ocean temperatures near the equator in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and is linked to drought and heatwaves in India, southeast Asia, eastern Australia and eastern South America.

The phenomenon occurs every two to five years.

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