Inquest to be opened into death of disgraced publicist Max Clifford

An inquest is set to open shortly into the death of disgraced publicist Max Clifford who died after being taken ill at Littlehey prison where he was serving an eight year sentence for sex offences.

Clifford, 74, died at a local hospital - believed to be Hinchingbrooke - on Sunday where he had been taken after apparently suffering two collapses at the prison last week.

Since the publicist was a serving prisoner, an inquest will be held into his death.

A statement from Cambridgeshire County Council on behalf of the coroner’s office in Huntingdon, said: “The death of Mr Clifford has been reported to the coroner.

“An inquest will be opened shortly, once initial inquiries have been completed. No further information will be available until the opening.”

Clifford was jailed for eight years in 2014 after being convicted of a number of sex assaults on women stemming from Operation Yewtree, set up as a result of the Jimmy Savile allegations.

Clifford, who represented top stars like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and the Beatles and masterminded tabloid kiss and tell stories, had been due to appeal against his convictions next year.

He had been ill since suffering a heart attack in August and died from a cardiac arrest.