Folk singer Roy Harper charged with child sex offences

Folk singer Roy Harper has been charged with sexually abusing a girl from the age of 12.

The 72-year-old is due before Hereford Magistrates' Court on Monday accused of nine counts of sexual assault.

West Mercia Police said the offences are alleged to have been committed in Herefordshire between 1975 and 1977 and relate to one victim.

Mr Harper, who lives in the Republic of Ireland, has performed with Pink Floyd and was an influence on Led Zeppelin.

The summons was issued to the musician, of Rossmore, Clonakilty, County Cork, on 16 October, after he was voluntarily interviewed by police at Heathrow Airport on 22 February.

Mr Harper has produced more than 30 albums during his career and performed on a sold out tour, last month.

He sang lead vocals on Pink Floyd's Have a Cigar on their 1975 classic album Wish You Were Here and was awarded the MOJO Hero Award by the music magazine in 2005.

Musician Roy Harper in court on nine child sex charges

The veteran folk and rock performer Roy Harper has appeared in court charged with a series of child sex offences.

The singer-songwriter did not enter a plea during his four-minute appearance at Hereford Magistrates' Court.

Mr Harper, of Rossmore, near Clonakilty in the Republic of Ireland, is accused of two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 in the 1970s.

Mr Harper, 72, also faces three charges of indecent assault and four charges of gross indecency.

The charges relate to one victim.

The singer is due to appear before Worcester Crown Court on 2 December.

Singer Roy Harper faces child sex trial

Veteran folk and rock performer Roy Harper is set to be tried next year over allegations he committed a string of sex offences in the Herefordshire area in the 1970s.

The singer-songwriter, who has performed with Pink Floyd and influenced rock band Led Zeppelin, was not required to appear for a short preliminary hearing held at Worcester Crown Court.

Harper, of Rossmore, near Clonakilty, Co Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, faces nine charges, including two counts of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 13.

The singer also faces three charges of indecent assault and four of gross indecency relating to the same alleged victim.

West Mercia Police announced last month that Harper had been charged with the offences, which are alleged to have occurred in the mid-1970s.

The 72-year-old is on unconditional bail and will next appear at the court on March 24, 2014 for a plea hearing.

A trial date has been set for August next year.

The prolific performer has produced more than 30 albums during his career.

Harper had been due to play on a bill alongside the likes of Eric Clapton and Robert Plant at London's Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday but has now withdrawn from the line-up. He was among the acts who had agreed to appear at a tribute to folk guitarist Bert Jansch, who died two years ago.

Folk singer-songwriter and Pink Floyd collaborator Roy Harper could face re-trial over sex abuse allegations



Folk singer-songwriter Roy Harper – who has collaborated with rock legends Pink Floyd among other big names in the music industry - could face a re-trial on five charges of historical sexual abuse after a jury failed to reach verdicts.

The 1970s star was acquitted of two counts of indecent assault following a three-week trial at Worcester Crown Court.

But jurors, who deliberated for more than 13 hours, failed to agree majority verdicts on two further counts of indecent assault, two of indecency with a child, and one of having sex with a child.

Harper, 73, was cleared yesterday of indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Hereford in 1980.

Jurors today found Harper not guilty of a count of indecent assault relating to a second alleged victim, who claimed she was abused in the mid-1970s when she was aged 11.

Discharging the trial jury, Judge Robert Juckes QC gave prosecutors two weeks to consider whether to seek a re-trial on the remaining charges, which all relate to the younger complainant.

Harper, of Rossmore, near Clonakilty, Co Cork, denied all the allegations, claiming that nothing improper had happened with either girl.

Harper is widely considered an influence by many major names in music including Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, who named the song ‘Hats off to (Roy) Harper after him, The Who and Pink Floyd among others.

In 1975, he provided lead vocals on the Pink Floyd track Have A Cigar, on the album Wish You Were Here and later collaborated with Floyd’s guitarist Dave Gilmour.

In more recent history, he is cited as an influence by Seattle-based acoustic band Fleet Foxes.

Folk singer Roy Harper 'left incredibly angry' after sexual abuse charges are dropped

Folk singer Roy Harper has spoken of his anger and intent to resume his career after sex abuse allegations against him were dropped.

Harper was recently acquitted of two indecent assault charges, one of allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl in 1980 and one of abusing an 11-year-old in the mid-1970s.

Speaking following a three-year battle to clear his name, Harper has said: "I have now been acquitted on all the charges that were brought. This case should never have gone as far as this, or taken so long to resolve."

"The psychological and personal cost to my wife and myself has been enormous and the financial cost hugely unfair. I lost my livelihood and I spent my savings... and more, on my defence."

Harper added: "I realise these are difficult issues at this time in this society, and I thank my lawyers for standing by me and working so hard to show the truth. Despite coming out of this without a blemish on my name, I cannot recoup my costs and that’s left me incredibly angry."

"I’m now going to restart my working life where I left off nearly three years ago. I’d like to thank everyone who’s continued to support me. Thank you, all of you."

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: "We keep all our cases under constant review and in this case it was decided that based on the strength of the evidence there is no longer a realistic prospect of a conviction. We will be meeting with the complainant and her family in order to fully explain our decision."