Silence of celebrities who were so quick to defend him

THEY had happily entered the witness box to speak up for Max Clifford during his trial. But last night the disgraced publicist’s celebrity backers were not so keen on discussing him.

Comedian Des O’Connor told jurors that Clifford was a man of ‘honesty and integrity’ who was ‘caring and charming’.

Last night, his agent Patricia Lake-Smith said that the veteran entertainer did not want to comment.

Former model and actress Jilly Johnson, pictured below right leaving Southwark Crown Court after giving evidence at the trial when she had described Clifford as ‘a very honourable man... very much a gentleman,’ also stayed silent. Her agent Sue Sammon said: ‘She doesn’t want to comment.’

When told that one of Clifford’s victims had spoken of her anger that so many highprofile celebrities had backed him, Miss Sammon added: ‘Jilly just said she doesn’t want to comment on this.’

Sky Sports presenter Clare Tomlinson, who once worked as Clifford’s assistant and told the court she did not believe he was ‘capable’ of sexual bullying and ‘wasn’t the sort who would pat people on the bum,’ was equally reticent. Her spokesman Julian Sheldon said: ‘ She doesn’t want to talk about this.

‘She doesn’t want to say anything on the record. This is a personal matter. It is not related to her work and she won’t be saying anything about it.’

Clifford’s high-profile clients have also deserted him. He previously acted as a spokesman for Simon Cowell, although the pair have not worked closely for around five years.

Cowell has attended several charity functions and fundraising events organised by Clifford in recent years. However, since Clifford’s conviction, Cowell now has no further plans to work with the publicist, either personally or professionally.

A friend said last night: ‘Simon has been left horrified by what’s emerged.’

Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis, whose lingerie brand Boux Avenue was one of Clifford’s top luxury clients, has also severed ties with his company, Max Clifford Associates. ‘ Boux Avenue gave notice of termination of their celebrity contract to MCA in late 2013,’ it said.