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| Max Clifford trial: Guilty verdict for infamous PR guru who sexually abused teenagers over two decades | Max Clifford trial: Guilty verdict for infamous PR guru who sexually abused teenagers over two decades |
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| Max Clifford has been found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault in the most high-profile historical sex crime case to date under Scotland Yard’s Operation Yewtree investigation. | Max Clifford has been found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault in the most high-profile historical sex crime case to date under Scotland Yard’s Operation Yewtree investigation. |
| The jury of six men and four women deliberated over eight days either side of the Easter holidays before the 71-year-old publicist was finally convicted at Southwark Crown Court. His victims, all teenagers at the time of the assaults, described being manipulated into performing sex acts on him in return for TV or modelling roles. | The jury of six men and four women deliberated over eight days either side of the Easter holidays before the 71-year-old publicist was finally convicted at Southwark Crown Court. His victims, all teenagers at the time of the assaults, described being manipulated into performing sex acts on him in return for TV or modelling roles. |
| Clifford was cleared of a further two counts of indecent assault, while the jury was unable to reach a verdict on another one. He will be sentenced at 2pm on Friday. | Clifford was cleared of a further two counts of indecent assault, while the jury was unable to reach a verdict on another one. He will be sentenced at 2pm on Friday. |
| Emerging from the court on Monday, Clifford said that he had been advised by his lawyers not to say anything to the press, according to BBC News. | |
| After failing to reach a unanimous verdict Judge Antony Leonard QC said he would accept a majority decision - where at least nine of them agreed. The time taken to reach a decision highlighted the complex nature of the six-week trial which heard allegations from seven women ranging from 1966 to 1984 when they were aged between 14 and 19 years old. | After failing to reach a unanimous verdict Judge Antony Leonard QC said he would accept a majority decision - where at least nine of them agreed. The time taken to reach a decision highlighted the complex nature of the six-week trial which heard allegations from seven women ranging from 1966 to 1984 when they were aged between 14 and 19 years old. |
| Clifford’s defence team had accused detectives from Operation Yewtree, set up two years ago after Jimmy Savile’s exposure as a prolific paedophile who abused hundreds of victims, of failing in “elementary police work” and that the trial had been “haunted by the spectre of Savile”. The Top of the Pops presenter died aged 84 in October 2011 after getting away with his crimes for at least half a century. | Clifford’s defence team had accused detectives from Operation Yewtree, set up two years ago after Jimmy Savile’s exposure as a prolific paedophile who abused hundreds of victims, of failing in “elementary police work” and that the trial had been “haunted by the spectre of Savile”. The Top of the Pops presenter died aged 84 in October 2011 after getting away with his crimes for at least half a century. |
| In court the publicist branded the women who spoke out against him as “fantasists and opportunists” that were telling “a pack of lies” in a bid to get compensation in the post-Savile climate. Clifford also blasted Scotland Yard for launching Operation Yewtree to cover up the embarrassment Savile caused them. It has cost around £3 million so far. | In court the publicist branded the women who spoke out against him as “fantasists and opportunists” that were telling “a pack of lies” in a bid to get compensation in the post-Savile climate. Clifford also blasted Scotland Yard for launching Operation Yewtree to cover up the embarrassment Savile caused them. It has cost around £3 million so far. |
| Judge Leonard had instructed the injury to ignore previous high-profile sex trial cases, such as deputy speaker Nigel Evans, cleared of nine sexual assault allegations earlier this month and those involving Coronation Street stars William Roache and Michael Le Vell, who were both acquitted. | Judge Leonard had instructed the injury to ignore previous high-profile sex trial cases, such as deputy speaker Nigel Evans, cleared of nine sexual assault allegations earlier this month and those involving Coronation Street stars William Roache and Michael Le Vell, who were both acquitted. |
| An Operation Yewtree case involving former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis, which Judge Leonard also presided over, ended when he was found not guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault but the jury failed to reach verdicts on two further counts which the broadcaster faces a retrial over. He also returned to court last week charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 1995. | An Operation Yewtree case involving former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis, which Judge Leonard also presided over, ended when he was found not guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault but the jury failed to reach verdicts on two further counts which the broadcaster faces a retrial over. He also returned to court last week charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 1995. |
| Comedians Jimmy Tarbuck and Jim Davidson were also arrested as part of Operation Yewtree but charges against them were later dropped by the CPS. Both had repeatedly denied the claims and Mr Tarbuck said he was the victim of false and malicious claims. Radio presenter Paul Gambaccini and former Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning are among those on bail while others arrested as part of Operation Yewtree are awaiting trial. | Comedians Jimmy Tarbuck and Jim Davidson were also arrested as part of Operation Yewtree but charges against them were later dropped by the CPS. Both had repeatedly denied the claims and Mr Tarbuck said he was the victim of false and malicious claims. Radio presenter Paul Gambaccini and former Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning are among those on bail while others arrested as part of Operation Yewtree are awaiting trial. |
| During his trial Mr Clifford told the court that after the Savile scandal broke his office had “dozens of women phoning us with stories about Savile, some of whom were obviously lying, and all of whom wanted money”. | During his trial Mr Clifford told the court that after the Savile scandal broke his office had “dozens of women phoning us with stories about Savile, some of whom were obviously lying, and all of whom wanted money”. |
| The publicist said he was used to men and women approaching him with fabricated stories to try and make some money. | The publicist said he was used to men and women approaching him with fabricated stories to try and make some money. |