U.K. Celebrity Publicist Max Clifford Charged With 11 Sexual Assaults

12:05 PM PDT 4/26/2013 by Georg Szalai

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The PR man, whose clients have included Simon Cowell, committed "indecent" assaults on 14- to 19-year-olds between 1966 and 1985.

LONDON - U.K. celebrity publicist Max Clifford has been charged with 11 "indecent" assaults, authorities here said late Friday.

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The PR man, whose clients have included Simon Cowell, was in December arrested and questioned as part of an investigation into sexual assaults committed by late TV host Jimmy Savile and others.   

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Britain's so-called Crown Prosecution Service said Friday evening that it has authorized police to charge Clifford with 11 indecent assaults allegedly committed between 1966 and 1985.

“We have carefully considered the evidence gathered...in relation to Max Clifford who was initially arrested on 6 December 2012 over allegations of sexual offenses," said Alison Saunders, chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS London. "We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr. Clifford to be charged with 11 offenses of indecent assault relating to seven complainants."

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Among the charges are one offense of "indecent assault" on a 14-year-old girl in 1966. The other victims were between the ages of 15 and 19, authorities said.

He wasn't charged in the case of three other allegations.

Clifford, 70, will have to appear at a court hearing on May 28. He previously called all allegations "completely false."

Highlighting the publicist's right to a fair trial, It is very important that nothing is said, Saunders said "it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.”

Early on in his career, Clifford was involved in early publicity work for The Beatles.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai