In “Read All About It” Max Clifford recounts his work bringing the likes of Gary Glitter and Jonathan King to justice, making clear in no uncertain terms his disgust for paedophiles. On Glitter:

“Max punched the air in triumph when he was sent down.

‘It was meant he was known for the vile sick person he is and that wherever he went parents would watch out for him…despite the tightening up on the law relating to paedophiles, it remains very difficult to get victims to testify. Many paedophiles are rich and powerful, which sometimes wrongly helps them get away with it.’”

Yesterday afternoon Clifford was charged with 11 indecent assaults by the Savile cops…

Over the last few weeks the police Operation Yewtree has questioned a number of celebrities over allegations of sex crimes. Each time the papers have known the names of those arrested or questioned, each time the first the public knew about it was when this blog broke the story.

We scooped the press on the arrests of Max Clifford and Jim Davidson. Today we can report that Rolf Harris has also been questioned under caution by police from Operation Yewtree. This has been an open secret in media circles for weeks, journalists and newspaper editors alike have known about the story – yet none has published the news. Why?

No judge has ordered reporting restrictions in relation to Rolf Harris, no super-injunctions prevent the reporting of news concerning him, instead his lawyers Harbottle and Lewis are citing the Leveson Inquiry’s report in letters to editors of newspapers – cowing them into silence. The Leveson effect is real and curtailing the freedom of the press through fear.

In the case of Max Clifford a popular media commentator was our source, with Jim Davidson an ex-copper tipped us off and a local journalist gave us confirmation. This blog is nimble and prepared to take risks, so we are beating all the other news organisations who post-Leveson prefer to await for official police confirmation. This blog is in the news business, we want to beat the competition, we want to be first, we’re proud of breaking stories. We want our readers to be the first to know what is going on.

When the Leveson Inquiry began Guido upset the judge by publishing Alistair Campbell’s evidence before he gave it. Leveson responded by placing a restriction order on this blog. Neatly illustrating by example that the Leveson Inquiry could bring in an era of judicial censorship. It is more subtle than that currently, the chilling effect is that editors fear the prospect of a law rather than any actual new law.

This blog likes being the first to report the news, we would also like to win in a fair fight. The press has its hands tied. A free press ensures that the police do not go about their business in secret. A secret police is a dangerous thing, reporting the arrest of suspects is an important safeguard in a free society – for them and us. We are in danger of losing that safeguard.

See also: Post Leveson British Press Won’t Publish Naked Harry Pictures

Max Clifford tells us in his book “Read All About It” that he took extra care to make clear that underage girls were never allowed at his infamous sex parties. According to Clifford:

“The parties initially took place about once a month, then weekly. I became the ringmaster, a role I like to have in many aspects of life, and particularly when I’m in the middle of big stories. The parties became my circus and various people performed in different ways. I didn’t allow drugs to be taken or anyone underage to come… Although what I’ve done is certainly immoral, sexual procuring has never bothered me as long as the people involved have been old enough to know what they’re doing.”

A helpful disclaimer…

UPDATE: In his own words…

In his tell-all book Max Clifford devotes several chapters to his sex life. No detail is spared:

“I was sexually adventurous from an early age and if I wanted to do something specific like having sex with a girl when her parents were in the next room, I’d keep on trying until I found someone who wanted to do it too. Almost anything went, including having two girls at a time, having sex with girlfriends’ mothers and watching others have sex. It all seemed very natural to me. When I look back now at the risks I took, I realise I could have had all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases but luckily I never have.”

Too much information…

Guido has been having a read of Max Clifford’s 1996 book “Read All About It“, in which he promises to reveal all about his love life, sex parties, and secrets of the stars. Clifford is the lucky recipient of some warm words from one Piers Morgan:

“He is trustworthy, always looks after his mates and no tabloid editor worth his or her salt would cross him. It would be self-defeating because he’s the one who has all the big stories…It has also meant Max has brilliantly bought himself a lifetime’s ‘get out of jail’ card. Newspapers won’t turn him over because why would they bite the hand that feeds them? Why kill your golden goose? Max is an honourable rogue.”

Piers would make a fine character witness…

Professionally done…

Video via Liar Politicians

In all his career Max has never had so many front page splashes…

Monday’s black-tie evening with Max Clifford to raise as much money for the Help Numan Walk Appeal is cancelled. Over a fabulous four-course dinner Max was due to reveal the secrets of the rich and famous and then host a charity auction and raffle. Unfortunately he is instead being asked by detectives to reveal secrets…

Max Clifford’s has hired Mishcon de Reya/Hacked Off’s Charlotte Harris. She says he will assist the police “as best he can with their inquiries” following his arrest. Regular readers will remember Charlotte from other high profile cases. Such as Chris Huhne.

Sky New’s Steve Dixon had the prophetic interview with Clifford in October:

He asked the PR guru whether he was compromising himself and Clifford explained that in the sixties people “never asked  for anybody’s birth certificate.”

“All kinds of things went on and I do mean young girls throwing themselves at them in their dressing rooms at concert halls, at gigs, whatever. They never asked for anybody’s birth certificate and they were young lads … suddenly everyone’s dream was a reality.”

Worth a watch given today’s news of his arrest.