Max Clifford denies sexual offences after arrest and bail (From Surrey Comet)

Hersham resident Max Clifford denies sexual offences after arrest

11:28am Friday 7th December 2012 in News

Hersham resident and PR Guru Max Clifford has been bailed following his arrest by detectives investigating historic sex offences.

Speaking to the media as he left Belgravia police station last night, Mr Clifford said: “These allegations are damaging and totally untrue. They are very distressing to my family and loved ones.

“Anyone who knew me all those years ago will have no doubt I would never act in that way.”

The 69-year-old was arrested at his Hersham home at about 7.40am on Thursday, December 6, on suspicion of sexual offences which relate back 35 years ago.

Mr Clifford, who is a patron of Woking and Sam Beare Hospices, was taken to a central London police station where he remained until his was bailed shortly after 9pm last night.

The publicist was bailed until later this month and Mr Clifford’s lawyers said he would assist police “the best he can”.

The arrest is linked to Operation Yewtree, which was launched by the Metropolitan Police to investigate historical allegations of sex offences after the revelations that Jimmy Savile, who died in October 2011, had abused young people during his career in broadcasting.

The operation has three strands, with the first looking specifically at the actions of  Savile.

The second strand concerns allegations against Savile and others, while the separate third strand related to alleged complaints against other people unconnected to the Savile investigations.

Scotland Yard said Mr Clifford had been arrested as part of the third, separate strand of the operation.

Mr Clifford is the sixth person to be questioned as part of that operation.