Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Caroline Mortimer

Max Clifford found not guilty of indecently assaulting a teenage girl

Former celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been found not guilty at Southwark Crown Court of indecently assaulting a teenage girl.

Clifford was accused of indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between October 1981 and May 1982 at his central London office.

The 73-year-old was eventually charged on one count of indecent assault. 

He previously convicted on eight counts of indecent assault against four girls aged between 14 and 19 and is currently serving eight years in prison.

The PR guru was one of several male celebrities who were detained under Operation Yewtree which was set up to look into historic child sex abuse in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

The prosecution said Clifford had "used his position of power" to "humilate" the alleged victim into performing a sex act on him after he locked her in his office. 

Prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC told the court: "The defendant is a sexual bully who took advantage of his position of power over the youth of the victim to engage in sexual activity she made it plain she did not want to do.

"The defendant ignored her wishes and persisted in his actions, knowing she did not consent."

The alleged victim, who is now married with children, said Clifford insisted she wore skirts to work and would leave "explicit" Polaroid photographs of women on his desk for her to see. 

But Clifford denied having taking pictures of "wannabe girls" saying he had been passed "maybe 100" Polaroid images of "young women with their legs wide apart" over his career but never used them.

He claimed the woman's reasons for coming forward were "financial" and  denied her allegations that he had made threats to kill her during the alleged incident.

From the witness box he said: "I am not a bully, it's not my nature. I stand up for myself and I stand up for others. I wouldn't bully or compromise a 17-year-old.

"I am a target now."

He has also continued to deny his earlier convictions. 

Additional reporting by PA

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.