Publicist Becomes First Operation Yewtree Conviction

Max Clifford became the first person to be convicted under Operation Yewtree today (28/04/2014) as he was found guilty of eight indecent assaults on women between 1977 and 1985.

The 71-year-old publicist, from Surrey was cleared of two charges of indecent assault while the jury at Southwark Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on another charge. But Mr Clifford will now face sentencing on the eight assaults, one of which was on a girl aged 15.

Although he was granted conditional bail, the judge said that this should not be taken as an indication of the sentence which will now be delivered on Friday.

Mr Clifford is the first person to be convicted under Operation Yewtree and was first arrested in December 2012. The Operation was set up to investigate allegations of sexual abuse after it emerged TV personality Jimmy Savile had abused hundreds of young people.

One of the victims told the BBC after the conviction that her faith in the justice system had been restored. She said: "I can't thank the police and the CPS enough for their endeavours to get justice for me and everyone else.”

Expert Opinion

This is highly significant as it is the first conviction as part of Operation Yewtree. Indecent assault is a serious crime and will have had a major, life-changing impact on the victims, one of whom was just 15 years old. <br/> <br/>“It is important that anyone who is the victim of sexual abuse gets access to help and support so that they are able to move forward with their lives. Getting justice is an important part of this process. <br/> <br/>“The jury has taken a long time to deliberate and make their decision but the conviction today sends out a message that sexual abuse will not be tolerated and that justice will be done, even against people with a high profile. <br/> <br/>“Although these crimes may have been 30 years ago, it doesn’t make them any less real for the victims who have to suffer the consequences every day.” Tracey Storey - Partner