Max Clifford victims describe impact of abuse

Publicist Max Clifford has said he stands by everything he has said since his arrest on historic sex allegations.


He was speaking outside court where he will be sentenced later for a string of indecent assaults against young women.


On Monday, he was convicted of eight offences in the 70s and 80s involving victims aged 15 to 18. He was cleared of two further charges and the jury failed to reach a verdict on a third.


Clifford, 71, is the first person to be convicted under Operation Yewtree.


Ahead of sentencing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, his defence team argued he should not 'be made an example following a number of failed prosecutions' - an apparent reference to recent high-profile cases in which celebrities have been cleared of historic abuse claims.


'Sentencing restricted'


The celebrity PR man is due to be sentenced at 14:00 BST.


Pausing for photographers outside court, Clifford said: 'I stand by everything I have said in the last 17 months.'



During his trial Clifford accused his victims of being 'fantasists' and 'opportunists' looking for money.


In impact statements read to the court, they said their relationships, educations and careers had suffered because of the assaults.


One said she had missed out on having her first sexual relationship with someone her own age because of what Clifford did.


Another said she would cry whenever she saw him on television following the assault and feared the police would laugh at her when she finally came forward.


Judge Anthony Leonard explained that if the offences had been committed after 2003, the starting point for sentencing would have been 10 years in prison.


'My sentencing powers are restricted. The maximum sentence available at the time was two years in prison,' he told the court.


Charity work


Clifford's defence team argued that the fact the last assault had taken place 29 years ago was a 'powerful factor in his favour'.


He had had plenty of contact with young women and girls in the intervening years and there had 'never been any suggestion of inappropriate behaviour', Richard Horwell QC told the court.


The defence also pointed to Clifford's charity work - something he sought to highlight during the trial - saying he had raised 'possibly millions' for deserving causes.


Prosecutors told the court they would not pursue the charge on which the jury had failed to reach a verdict.


Thank You for Visiting Max Clifford victims describe impact of abuse.

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