Max Clifford's wife Jo Clifford is divorcing the disgraced PR mogul following his recent conviction for several counts of indecent assault.Jo Clifford, who was not present or called as a character witness during 71-year-old Max's trial, has decided to divorce her husband of four years after he was jailed for a series of offences at the beginning of the month.
The 51-year-old, who worked as Max's PA before the pair married in April 2010, has hired renowned divorce lawyer Raymond Tooth to represent her.
The lawyer, whose motto is said to be 'Don't get even, get Tooth' according to the Daily Mail, confirmed Max and Jo's separation. "They are divorcing," he said. "There are no disputed matters. Everything has been sorted out amicably so it’s all done. "Mr Tooth is well-known for negotiating multi-million pound divorce settlements and has a long list of famous clients including Jude Law’s ex-wife Sadie Frost, rock star Eric Clapton’s former wife Pattie Boyd and Irina Abramovich, who was married to billionaire Chelsea Football Club chairman Roman Abramovich.
On 2 May, Surrey-born Max became the first person to be convicted as part of Scotland Yard’s Operation Yewtree, the investigation into historic sexual assaults that was launched after the Jimmy Savile scandal.The court heard from prosecution lawyers that Max used promises of fame and meetings with celebrities "to bully and manipulate" young people into sexual acts.
The father-of-one continues to deny the claims made against him, calling the allegations "utterly revolting, utterly untrue, disgusting lies". The publicist did admit to "slap and tickle and kisses and cuddles" in his office and affairs with two female employees, however he said those relationships "developed naturally" and were "morally wrong" because he was married — as opposed to criminal.
Max was previously married to Elizabeth Porter for 36 years and the couple have a daughter called Louise together.Elizabeth, who was known as Liz, died of lung cancer on 8 March 2003 and seven years later Max married his PA Jo Westwood.
