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The Sun

The Sun censured over 'harassment' of Max Clifford victim

By James Doleman

August 15, 2014 | 2 min read

The Press Complaints Commision (PCC) has upheld a complaint of "harassment" against The Sun over it's attempts to interview a victim of jailed publicist Max Clifford.

Max Clifford

The complainant, who was a witness for the prosecution at Clifford's trial, said a reporter from the newspaper first visited her house in April 2013. She said he was met at the door by a friend who asked him to leave. In June 2013, she said a second reporter called the home and spoke to her husband. She said he took the reporter’s contacts but suggested that she would not comment until after the trial.

On 26 February 2014, she said a reporter again visited her home. She said she opened the door and confirmed her identity and then asked a police officer in attendance to speak to the reporter. The officer told the PCC that he informed the reporter of the prior approaches and that “she did not wish to speak to [the newspaper] at any time”.

In its submission to the Commission, the newspaper said that while it "regretted that the complainant had been distressed by the visits", approaches for comment were "standard practice for a newsworthy case" and did not amount to harassment.

However, the PCC rejected this argument, noting that when the police officer who was at the complainant's home spoke told the reporter to leave "this was a clear request to desist and further contexts were a breach of the editors code "particularly given the complainant’s vulnerable position".

The Drum contacted News UK for comment but had not received a reply at time of publication.

The Sun

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