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Max Clifford sentenced to eight years' jail for indecently assaulting four girls Max Clifford sentenced to eight years' jail for indecently assaulting four girls
(35 minutes later)
The celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been sentenced to eight years in jail for indecently assaulting four teenage girls.The celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been sentenced to eight years in jail for indecently assaulting four teenage girls.
Clifford is the first public figure to be jailed under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree inquiry into sexual offences stretching back five decades.Clifford is the first public figure to be jailed under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree inquiry into sexual offences stretching back five decades.
The sentence, of which the 71-year-old is expected to serve half, seals the downfall of a man who had been instrumental in some of the most high profile tabloid scoops of the last few decades.The sentence, of which the 71-year-old is expected to serve half, seals the downfall of a man who had been instrumental in some of the most high profile tabloid scoops of the last few decades.
The PR man stood in the glass-fronted dock as his sentence was passed down by the judge, Anthony Leonard. When he finished speaking, Clifford removed his hearing loop and turned and smiled at his supporters in the public gallery, some of whom were in tears, before he was led to the court cells and into custody.The PR man stood in the glass-fronted dock as his sentence was passed down by the judge, Anthony Leonard. When he finished speaking, Clifford removed his hearing loop and turned and smiled at his supporters in the public gallery, some of whom were in tears, before he was led to the court cells and into custody.
On Monday, following a six-week trial, Clifford was found guilty of eight charges of indecent assault against women and girls as young as 15 between 1977 and 1985.On Monday, following a six-week trial, Clifford was found guilty of eight charges of indecent assault against women and girls as young as 15 between 1977 and 1985.
He was found not guilty of two other charges of indecent assault. The jury, which deliberated on its verdicts for 32 hours, could not decide on one further count, which the crown announced on Friday would be left to lie on the court file.He was found not guilty of two other charges of indecent assault. The jury, which deliberated on its verdicts for 32 hours, could not decide on one further count, which the crown announced on Friday would be left to lie on the court file.
Clifford's imprisonment leaves an uncertain future for the PR agency, Max Clifford Associates, he founded in 1970 to represent a string of A-list clients in Fleet Street. The judge told Clifford that his offending was "not trivial but of a very serious nature" and some would be classified as rape under current laws. He said the offences would carry a maximum term of 10 years if they had taken place under modern legislation and that he must take that into account in sentencing.
The judge accused Clifford of showing contempt for the victims with his "quite extraordinary" behaviour throughout the trial and that this was a further aggravating factor.
The severity of the sentence was a surprise to many in court, with Clifford's tearful supporters standing frozen in shock as lawyers and journalists filed out of the packed courtroom. A number of victims and witnesses hugged each other and wept.
The director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said afterwards: "The prosecution was built with evidence demonstrating a pattern of behaviour where unconnected victims told of strikingly similar experiences over a number of years. I would like to thank all the victims for coming forward and giving evidence in difficult circumstances.
"Research is clear that sexual offences are severely under-reported and I want to provide reassurance to any victim that the CPS will continue to make decisions based on the evidence and in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors."
Clifford will automatically go on the sex offender register for life, which will mean that when he is released he will only be able to live at an approved address and will have to notify authorities of his movements, including travel abroad. Other restrictions could include compulsory sex offender treatment, a ban on contacting his victims or anyone under 18, a night-time curfew, notifying the authorities of any new relationship and a ban on using the internet.
His imprisonment leaves an uncertain future for the PR agency, Max Clifford Associates, he founded in 1970 to represent a string of A-list clients in Fleet Street.
The X Factor's Simon Cowell, with whom Clifford has shared a warm and long friendship, was the first to desert the kiss-and-tell merchant after the guilty verdicts, followed quickly by a string of other high-profile clients, including the Dragons' Den judge Theo Paphitis and Channel 4's Bank of Dave star, Dave Fishwick.The X Factor's Simon Cowell, with whom Clifford has shared a warm and long friendship, was the first to desert the kiss-and-tell merchant after the guilty verdicts, followed quickly by a string of other high-profile clients, including the Dragons' Den judge Theo Paphitis and Channel 4's Bank of Dave star, Dave Fishwick.
On Friday morning, Clifford had sat silently in the dock listening through a hearing loop as the packed courtroom was told how the trial had been "extremely terrifying" for his victims.On Friday morning, Clifford had sat silently in the dock listening through a hearing loop as the packed courtroom was told how the trial had been "extremely terrifying" for his victims.
In a victim impact statement read out by the prosecutor, Rosina Cottage QC, one woman said her abuse at the hands of Clifford had ruined her relationship with her parents, who she felt she had deceived, and her husband.In a victim impact statement read out by the prosecutor, Rosina Cottage QC, one woman said her abuse at the hands of Clifford had ruined her relationship with her parents, who she felt she had deceived, and her husband.
She said seeing Clifford protest his innocence on television brought back feelings of intimidation and fear. Cottage said: "She was further upset and distressed to see Mr Clifford refusing to apologise to the victims after the guilty verdict on the court steps."She said seeing Clifford protest his innocence on television brought back feelings of intimidation and fear. Cottage said: "She was further upset and distressed to see Mr Clifford refusing to apologise to the victims after the guilty verdict on the court steps."
Another woman said she did not sleep for three days after she was indecently assaulted by Clifford. The abuse had ruined her fledgling showbusiness career, Cottage read. "She had amazing opportunities but couldn't work in the industry because she was terrified what she would be exposed to."Another woman said she did not sleep for three days after she was indecently assaulted by Clifford. The abuse had ruined her fledgling showbusiness career, Cottage read. "She had amazing opportunities but couldn't work in the industry because she was terrified what she would be exposed to."
For a third woman, the abuse "took away her trust in other men. It was a skeleton in her closet she felt she couldn't talk about."For a third woman, the abuse "took away her trust in other men. It was a skeleton in her closet she felt she couldn't talk about."
Cottage said Clifford had aggravated his offending by abusing his power.Cottage said Clifford had aggravated his offending by abusing his power.
Arriving at court earlier, Clifford posed for photographers and said: "I just have to make the best of it, that's what I've got to do."Arriving at court earlier, Clifford posed for photographers and said: "I just have to make the best of it, that's what I've got to do."
Asked whether he would appeal against his conviction he said: "Everything like that will be handled by my lawyers."Asked whether he would appeal against his conviction he said: "Everything like that will be handled by my lawyers."
His defence barrister, Richard Horwell QC, said Clifford should not be made a scapegoat for other failed prosecutions, including those of the Coronation Street actor William Roache, the MP Nigel Evans and the DJ Dave Lee Travis.His defence barrister, Richard Horwell QC, said Clifford should not be made a scapegoat for other failed prosecutions, including those of the Coronation Street actor William Roache, the MP Nigel Evans and the DJ Dave Lee Travis.
"Mr Clifford is not to be made an example of following a number of failed prosecutions. He is to be sentenced for those eight counts and no more," Horwell said."Mr Clifford is not to be made an example of following a number of failed prosecutions. He is to be sentenced for those eight counts and no more," Horwell said.
He said Clifford had raised hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds for charities, and that the last offence took place nearly 30 years ago, meaning the publicist posed no risk of re-offending. "The public do not require protection from him today," he said.He said Clifford had raised hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds for charities, and that the last offence took place nearly 30 years ago, meaning the publicist posed no risk of re-offending. "The public do not require protection from him today," he said.