British celebrity PR guru Max Clifford jailed for 8 years over indecent assault

LONDON – British celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been sentenced to eight years in jail for a string of indecent assaults on four women.

The 71-year-old, one of the most influential figures in Britain’s entertainment world, was convicted Monday of eight counts of indecent assault on victims aged between 15 and 18 at the time of offence in the 1970s and ’80s.

Judge Anthony Leonard said Friday that although the offences took place a long time ago — when inappropriate sexual behaviour was more likely tolerated — Clifford’s offences were of a very serious nature.

He said that some of the offences could be charged as rape if they took place today, and that Clifford should serve at least half of his total sentence in jail.