Famed publicist Max Clifford found GUILTY of indecently assaulting teen girls

The verdict against the 71-year-old marked the first conviction under Operation Yewtree - the investigation sparked by the Jimmy Savile investigation.

By Dave Lancaster |

15:08 28 April 2014

Max Clifford, the veteran publicist with a string of high-profile clients, has been found guilty of a series of charges over a two decade period. All of the charges relate to the indecent assault of women and girls between 1977 and 1985. 

 

The Surrey-based 71-year-old was declared guilty of eight counts against women and girls as young as 15 by the jury at Southwark Crown Court. 

 

While Clifford was bailed before sentencing is to be passed on Friday, Judge Anthony Leonard QC warned him that the fact that he was allowed bail was no hint of the potential duration of the forthcoming sentencing. 

 

Clifford was arrested in December 2012 and formally charged in April 2013 while denying the charges against him. 

 

The court heard how Clifford bullied teenagers into performing sex acts to further their careers. 

 

Clifford displayed no visible emotion as the verdicts were returned by the jury after their 32 hours of deliberations.

 

Rosina Cottage QC, prosecuting, stated: "He has managed to portray himself in different ways to different people, but don't be fooled. In every case his actions were sudden, unexpected and, frankly, in some cases so bizarre you may think these young women and girls have no idea how to react."

 

Clifford's star clients have included the likes of Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, Freddie Starr, Jade Goody, Muhammad Ali and Marlon Brando. Simon Cowell is a current client.