CELEBRITY publicist Max Clifford has refuted "damaging and totally untrue allegations" made against him of historical sexual abuse, having been arrested by the Metropolitan Police.
Anyone who knew him would have "no doubt I would never act in the way I have today been accused of," he said.
The publicist was arrested at his Surrey home at 7.40am yesterday on suspicion of sexual offences and taken to a central London police station for questioning.
He was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse surrounding Jimmy Savile and others.
He was speaking as he left a central London police station following questioning by detectives. He has been released on bail by police until a date later in December.
He added: "On a personal level, they [the allegations] are very distressing for myself, my wife, my family and loved ones."
Charlotte Harris, of law firm Mishcon de Reya, said: "Mr Clifford will assist the police as best he can with their inquiries. When we are in a position to provide further information, we will."
Clifford is the fifth person to be arrested since police launched an extensive inquiry into sex crime allegations against Savile.
More than 200 allegations of assault are being investigated and police have heard from more than 500 victims.
Police are looking into three categories of alleged offences: those involving only Savile, which make up the majority of cases; those involving Savile and others; and those with no direct link to Savile.
Clifford's arrest is part of the third strand.
Some of Savile's alleged victims said they were abused on BBC premises at the height of his fame, and the fallout from the revelations has thrown the publicly funded broadcaster into turmoil, forcing its director general to resign.
The four others arrested as part of the inquiry are Freddie Starr, Gary Glitter, Wilfred De'Ath, a retired BBC producer, and radio broadcaster Dave Lee Travis. All deny any wrongdoing.
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