Clifford Jailed For 8 Years

Handing down one of the most severe sentences available to him under legislation in force when the offenses took place, Judge Anthony Leonard told Clifford he could have been jailed for life if the offences happened today.

“Your victims thought you were untouchable… you did too,” the judge said. “These offences may have taken place a long time ago when inappropriate and trivial sexual behaviour was more likely to be tolerated. Your offending was not trivial but of a very serious nature,” he told Clifford, ruling that the publicist must serve his sentences of between six and 24 months consecutively.

He said that his abuse of one victim alone could have seen him get at least eight years in jail under current law but that it did not apply today because the offences occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.

Clifford’s lawyers said they’re considering an appeal.

The 71-year-old was found guilty of the indecent assaults at Southwark Crown Court April 28.

He was cleared of two further charges of indecent assault and the jury failed to reach a verdict on an 11th charge.

Clifford is the first to be convicted under Operation Yewtree, the police operation set up to investigate BBC DJ and TV personality Jimmy Savile. He’s also the first person in English law to be convicted by jury of a historical sex crime.