The predator had been “gravely ill” with neck cancer in his final months, and was said to be gargling to talk and being fed by tubes.
The sex offender died today, aged 92.
Rumours of Harris‘ declining health had been circling since 2019, when neighbours said the twisted man only ever left his house with his carer.
And when the predator was snapped in public in 2020, he looked sickly as he struggled to move along the pavement with a walking stick.
At the time he was seen taking his pet poodle out for a walk in a sleeveless jacket and sandals, shuffling alone with his cane.
One neighbour said: “He’s in poor health and has declined rapidly.
“He doesn’t come out anymore and when he does it’s only ever with his carer.”
A month later he was photographed looking even sicker as he made his way towards the passenger seat of a car using the stick.
Then, in October last year, it was claimed the predator’s health was in rapid decline.
Neighbour Portia Wooderson told The Telegraph: “Only carers and nurses – who care for him 24 hours – come and go. I’m told he can’t eat anymore.”
It was said he went downhill even more last year after his poodle suddenly died in the months prior.
At the time, Private investigator William Merritt said: “He’s battling a cancer of the neck, and gargles when he talks.”
Merritt said, however, that Harris was “still the entertainer”, adding: “As soon as one of two people walk into the room, he turns into a big kid again.
“He’s an artistic type, and he’ll try to perform on cue, even when he’s unwell.”
The sex offender shot to fame in the 1950s as a kids entertainer on the BBC – often appearing alongside fellow paedo Jimmy Savile.
Harris became a national treasure who painted The Queen and appeared at kids festivals and on TV adverts, receiving a raft of honours for his work.
But his 60-year career came crashing down when a childhood pal of his only child, Bindi, – known as Victim A – came forward alleging Harris groomed her aged just 13.
It transpired the sicko had abused four young girls, one aged just seven or eight.
Harris was finally caged for five years and nine months in 2014 for indecent assault on 12 women.
But he was released from prison on licence in 2017 after serving just under three years in HMP Stafford.
The paedo – awarded an MBE, OBE and later CBE – was stripped of all of his honours in 2015.
4
4