Jury out in Max Clifford trial

Jurors have retired to consider their verdicts in the trial of publicist Max Clifford who is accused of a string of indecent assaults.

Jury out in Max Clifford trial

Jurors have retired to consider their verdicts in the trial of publicist Max Clifford who is accused of a string of indecent assaults.

The 71-year-old celebrity agent faces 11 indecent assault charges against seven alleged victims – all of which he denies.

Prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC told the jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court that Clifford thought he was “untouchable” as he used his celebrity connections to “bully and manipulate” girls and young women into sex acts over a 20-year period.

The PR consultant treated his office as his own “sexual fiefdom” and “playground”, taking “what he wanted when he wanted”, she said.

Clifford told the jury of six men and five women that the allegations against him were “a load of lies” as he accused the alleged victims of being “fantasists and opportunists”.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 1966 and 1984 - before Clifford found widespread fame with his links to tabloid stories including The Sun’s Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster front page, the court heard.

The alleged assaults are said to have happened in cars, and at his New Bond Street offices in central London, jurors have been told.

On some occasions Clifford told the girls to take off their clothes; on others he made them perform sex acts on him; and on some he forced himself on them, it is alleged.

The women – who do not know each other – came forward to police in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, the court heard.

A number of other witnesses – who are not complainants in the case – also made allegations against Clifford including one woman who claimed she was just 12 when she was assaulted by the publicist while in a jacuzzi in Spain.

The alleged incident, said to have happened in 1983, could not be included in the charges as it took place abroad, the jury heard.

During the trial, the court has heard claims that Clifford has a “micro-penis” measuring two and half inches erect, while one woman told the court the publicist’s penis was “enormous”.

A doctor had measured Clifford’s penis at an “average” five and a quarter inches long when flaccid, the jury has previously been told.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC has warned the jury to ignore other recent high-profile sex assault cases which are “irrelevant” to their considerations.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Five dead and more than 100 in hospital in Japanese health supplements scare Five dead and more than 100 in hospital in Japanese health supplements scare
TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT Court orders Israel to halt Gaza famine; Hamas says ceasefire needed
‘Best minds in the world’ working on plans for bridge’s removal ‘Best minds in the world’ working on plans for bridge’s removal
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited