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Woman feared Max Clifford would rape or kill her, court hears Woman feared Max Clifford would rape or kill her, court hears | |
(5 months later) | |
A woman has told a court she thought Max Clifford was going to rape or kill her as he forced her to perform a sex act on him when she was 17. | A woman has told a court she thought Max Clifford was going to rape or kill her as he forced her to perform a sex act on him when she was 17. |
The disgraced celebrity publicist, 73, is on trial at Southwark crown court accused of indecently assaulting the woman in his London office in the 1980s, which he denies. | The disgraced celebrity publicist, 73, is on trial at Southwark crown court accused of indecently assaulting the woman in his London office in the 1980s, which he denies. |
He was jailed for eight years in May 2014 after being convicted of a number of charges under Operation Yewtree, the Metropolitan police investigation set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal. | He was jailed for eight years in May 2014 after being convicted of a number of charges under Operation Yewtree, the Metropolitan police investigation set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal. |
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “He unzipped his trousers and came towards me. He said, ‘Let’s have some fun’, or something along those lines, Let’s have a bit of fun’. | The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “He unzipped his trousers and came towards me. He said, ‘Let’s have some fun’, or something along those lines, Let’s have a bit of fun’. |
“I said, ‘I don’t want to’. He took my hand and put it on him.” | “I said, ‘I don’t want to’. He took my hand and put it on him.” |
She added: “I was worried he was either going to rape me or kill me. I didn’t know what would happen next. It was something I had never experienced before and was worried what was coming next.” | She added: “I was worried he was either going to rape me or kill me. I didn’t know what would happen next. It was something I had never experienced before and was worried what was coming next.” |
She said she did not report the incident earlier because she was ashamed, adding: “I didn’t think I would be believed or that anyone would do anything. He was so powerful … I’m nobody.” | She said she did not report the incident earlier because she was ashamed, adding: “I didn’t think I would be believed or that anyone would do anything. He was so powerful … I’m nobody.” |
Clifford is accused of assaulting the girl at his Mayfair offices in New Bond Street between October 1981 and May 1982. | Clifford is accused of assaulting the girl at his Mayfair offices in New Bond Street between October 1981 and May 1982. |
She said he also made “smutty” jokes about her with late comedian Lennie Bennett. | She said he also made “smutty” jokes about her with late comedian Lennie Bennett. |
“They were like schoolboys,” she told the jury. “He would say things like, ‘We will get you to take your top off by the end of the day’.” | “They were like schoolboys,” she told the jury. “He would say things like, ‘We will get you to take your top off by the end of the day’.” |
She was accused of making up the allegation after apparently reading in the news that Clifford’s victims could be entitled to up to £200,000 in compensation. | She was accused of making up the allegation after apparently reading in the news that Clifford’s victims could be entitled to up to £200,000 in compensation. |
Sarah Forshaw QC, defending, asked: “What was it that made you report something that had happened 34 years ago? Was it the money?” | Sarah Forshaw QC, defending, asked: “What was it that made you report something that had happened 34 years ago? Was it the money?” |
“No, it wasn’t the money,” the woman replied. “I would say I’m a victim of Max Clifford because he did what he did – that’s why,” she added. | “No, it wasn’t the money,” the woman replied. “I would say I’m a victim of Max Clifford because he did what he did – that’s why,” she added. |
She was also asked about the size of Clifford’s penis. | She was also asked about the size of Clifford’s penis. |
Forshaw said: “In the last trial the size of Mr Clifford’s penis became the source of much hilarity because of conflicting accounts – it was called a micro-penis and absolutely massive. It was reported on the news.” | Forshaw said: “In the last trial the size of Mr Clifford’s penis became the source of much hilarity because of conflicting accounts – it was called a micro-penis and absolutely massive. It was reported on the news.” |
She added: “It was measured and was actually an average-sized penis. What size are you going to tell the jury his penis was?” | She added: “It was measured and was actually an average-sized penis. What size are you going to tell the jury his penis was?” |
The woman answered: “I’m not aware. I wasn’t looking and didn’t have anything to compare it to.” She added: “I didn’t know what was big and what was small and I was trying not to look.” | The woman answered: “I’m not aware. I wasn’t looking and didn’t have anything to compare it to.” She added: “I didn’t know what was big and what was small and I was trying not to look.” |