Rolf Harris Forced to Down Paints Amid Prison Health and Safety Scare

Veteran entertainer was found guilty of 12 charges of indecently assaulting young girls over a period of nearly 20 years — Rolf Harris had been painting his way to a popularity not usually enjoyed by paedophiles in prison Reuters

Life inside prison just got tougher for Rolf Harris after he was banned from painting pictures in case it caused the jail to catch fire.

Paedophile entertainer Harris has been prohibited from indulging one of his trademark habits in a bizarre health and safety scare at HMP Bullingdon.

Prison chiefs fear his oil paints pose a serious fire hazard, reported The Sun.

Being stripped of his paintbox will come as a blow to the disgraced former TV star because it denies him the chance to produce pictures, which are reportedly highly prized commodities among fellow inmates.

Harris was convicted of child sex crimes earlier this year, but he has apparently managed to dodge the pariah status behind bar that normally accompanies such a conviction.

It seems this has been in no small case due to his deft touch with paint brush, with reports of inmates queuing outside his cell to get a likeness done.

In contrast, other high profile child sex offenders, such as Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, are housed in secluded wings with fellow paedophiles due to their constant fear of attacks.