Max Clifford ‘used celebrity links to bully girls into sex’

Warning: this video contains flash photography

The PR guru is accused of 11 counts of indecent assault relating to seven alleged victims between 1966 and 1984, all of which he denies.

As his trial for a string of alleged indecent assaults got under way, London’s Southwark crown court heard that the 70-year-old preyed on girls by impersonating Hollywood bigwigs and boasting about his famous contacts.

The court heard that he would impress girls by suggesting he could introduce them to celebrities such as David Bowie, Julie Christie and Tommy Steele.

Several of the women claimed they had taken calls from what they thought was Mr Clifford pretending to be Hollywood celebrities, including actor Charles Bronson; Dynasty director Aaron Spelling and James Bond producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli.

‘Bully and manipulate’

Several alleged assaults took place in Mr Clifford’s central London offices, the court heard, which one woman said was “sexually orientated”, with the PR guru constantly playing games with female models and making calls to them, pretending to be Michael Winner.

“He would put on a different voice and invite them into the office for a meeting telling them not to wear any knickers,” said prosecuting barrister Rosina Cottage QC.

The court heard that several of the women who had come forward – none of whom knew each other – described repeated references by Mr Clifford to his “tiny penis” during the alleged assaults.

Ms Cottage told the court: “The defendant used his contact with famous people to bully and manipulate these young people into sexual acts with him.

“In his actions, we say he breached the trust of parents he had encouraged to trust him and young women working for him or seeking jobs in the world in which he worked.”

Mr Clifford listened to proceedings from the glass-walled dock using a hearing loop, shaking his head several times as the allegations against him were outlined to the jury.

‘Well connected’

“Many of you, but not all of you, will have heard of the name Max Clifford. He is wealthy, he is well connected.

“He is the maker of the kiss-and-tell celebrity and the breaker of reputations. He is the man called upon by television to speak about celebrity and media manipulation.

“He has been at the top of the media game for many years. He knows the strings to pull. He knows how to manipulate, lie and get what he wants.

“He is a man who likes to play games with people and you will hear evidence of the games that he played with these girls and young women.

“As the years went by, he got away with his behaviour, he must have thought he was untouchable and no doubt thought no one would complain and, if they did, they would not be believed.”

Ms Cottage added: “These women were vulnerable to the attentions of a man experienced in taking sexual advantage of their naivety and their willingness to please.

“He toyed with their inexperience and treated them with contempt. And we say he continues to do so by denying their allegations.”

As well as several alleged victims to whom the 11 charges relate, there are a number of witnesses who claim they too were indecently assaulted by Mr Clifford, the court heard.

One claimed she was just 12 when Mr Clifford assaulted her on holiday but as the alleged assault, said to have taken place in 1983, happened abroad, it could not be included in the charges.

Jurors were told that the charges related to a series of alleged assaults, said to have happened in cars, and at his offices in Bond Street.

On some occasions Mr 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, the court heard.

Several of the women also described Mr Clifford making reference to the size of his penis, the court heard, with the PR consultant apparently exposing himself to one while saying “Look at my penis. Isn’t it tiny? What can I do with this?”, while saying to another: “Is this the smallest one you’ve ever seen?”

None of the women reported the alleged assaults to police at the time, thinking they would not be believed, the court heard.

Jimmy Savile scandal

But they later came forward as allegations about Jimmy Savile hit the headlines in 2012.

As the allegations over Savile began to hit the headlines, the PR guru appeared on ITV’s Daybreak breakfast programme, the court heard, which prompted an alleged victim to go to the police.

Ms Cottage told the court: “The 1960s, the 1970s and the Eighties were very different times from today.

“There was no social media. Secretaries had to bite their lips when the boss patted their bottom and told them to ‘run along, love, and make me a cup of tea’.

“A complaint would have earned them ridicule and the sack.”

Clifford ‘used me, abused me, upset me’

But the court heard that one woman sent an anonymous letter to Mr Clifford, writing: “You abused me, you hurt me, upset me and you are a vile, horrible man.”

Extracts of the letter were read to the court, in which the woman said: “It has taken me 35 years to write this letter so hopefully it will reach you.”

Outlining the abuse she claimed to have suffered at the hands of Mr Clifford, she said “You took pleasure in degrading me”, and asked: “How many others like me are there out there?”

A copy of the letter was found in Mr Clifford’s bedside table, Ms Cottage told the court, adding that another copy was also found in his “other home”.

Ms Cottage said Mr Clifford claimed to have had sexual encounters with “many women”, but only ever consensually.

The 70-year-old was first arrested in December 2012, when his homes in Hersham and the Cotswolds, as well as his offices, were searched, the court heard.

He was arrested again in February 2013, and charged in April that year. Mr Clifford denies all charges and the case, which is due to last around six weeks, was adjourned until Monday morning.