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Woman assaulted by Rolf Harris in SA speaks out


London - Linda Nolan has claimed Rolf Harris' prison sentence is "too lenient".

The 84-year-old TV presenter - who was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault - has been jailed for five years and nine months. Irish singer Nolan has hit out while explaining that by her speaking about her own experiences, she might encourage others to do the same.

Talking to Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard on Good Morning Britain, she said: "In my opinion I think that his sentence was too lenient and I think that if me speaking out helps other people come forward then maybe we can do something about that."

Linda, 55, opened up about a meeting with Rolf 40 years ago - during which he bear-hugged her and made her "feel like an idiot" for complaining about his hands - and admitted he made her "uncomfortable".

She explained: "We were touring with him in South Africa and I went to the loo before we were going to go on stage, I was in my dressing gown, and when I came back out of the loo, he was in the corridor and he gave me a bear hug.

"I felt his hands all over my back, it felt uncomfortable immediately, his hands came around the side, too close to my breasts and then I felt him kissing my neck, I felt his tongue on my neck and I just shouted 'Stop Rolf, don't' and he just, he did stop, but he made me feel like an idiot.

"[He said] 'I'm only playing with you', and of course at the time you think ... he made me feel embarrassed, he made me feel like a stupid child and that's why I didn't then go in and tell everybody and all of that."

Meanwhile, Linda admitted she was nervous about sharing her story in case it looked like she was "jumping on a bandwagon".

She added: "I was really nervous coming on today, I obviously don't want people to think I'm jumping on a bandwagon here.

"I've never believed that any of these enquiries should be a witch hunt but I do feel that if we do speak out and I'm in position to do that, then maybe it will help other women come forward if the same thing has happened to them."

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