Mum of Max Clifford’s alleged sex abuse victim tells court she didn’t believe her daughter’s claims
Former celebrity publicist is on trial accused of forcing a 17-year-old to perform a sex act on him in his office in the 1980s
THE mum of Max Clifford’s alleged victim said she did not believe her daughter’s claims of abuse, a court heard.
She told jurors she “knew nothing about” Clifford and that her daughter had “never” suggested he was anything but nice to her – adding, “I did decide it was untrue”.
The woman said that her daughter would have “definitely” told her if Clifford had done something “not nice”.
When asked what her daughter would have done if such a thing had happened, she replied: “I think she would have stuck up for herself, ranted and raged to them.”
The former celebrity publicist, 73, is accused of indecently assaulting the 17-year-old in his London office in the 1980s. He denies the charge.
The woman also told the court that she had given her daughter financial support throughout her life.
“She has always been short [of money], she spends more than she coming in and she would always turn to me when she could,” she said.
Rosina Cottage QC, prosecuting, asked if the woman could say “something nice” about her daughter to which she replied: “I always found her loveable.”
The mum, now in her eighties, told the court she was “not aware” of Clifford’s previous convictions when a private investigator visited her at her home.
Cottage said: “You spent an hour and a half talking about [her daughter's] husband, background and children - did you pause even for a moment to think about the effect of that on your daughter?”
'No, I don't think so,’ the woman replied.
She later added that she was not aware of where her daughter was living at the time.
Cottage asked if the private investigators had explained that they had contacted her as a result of the allegation.
“They did but I did not believe her accusation, it did not ring true to me.
“I did decide it was untrue.”
Asked if she would have hoped her daughter would tell her about such an incident she replied: “I would have expected her to have told me.”
The woman was asked what she would have told her daughter to do if she had known but did not say that she would have urged her to report Clifford to the police.
"At that time I am not saying it was acceptable but up to the '70s a slap on the bottom or somebody brushing past your bosom in work was commonplace - even exposure was commonplace."
She added that a woman could “walk down the road” in the evening and there could be “someone in the bushes”.
“She would have told him to get back in his office or something.
“She would not put up with anything she didn't like - if she didn't like it she would have told him where to go."
Asked by Judge Alistair McCreath about how she would have reacted if her daughter had told her at the time, the witness replied: "I would not have believed it had happened in the way she said."
Jurors also heard that, according to a GP's note, the alleged victim was briefly treated for "excessive alcohol consumption" in October 2010.
The trial continues.