Disgraced publicist Max Clifford was "unfairly" sentenced for a string of indecent assaults, his defence lawyer claimed in court today.

Clifford, 71, formerly of Onslow Road, Hersham, was found guilty of eight charges of indecent assault against women and girls as young as 15 years old earlier this year.

He was jailed for eight years at Southwark Crown Court on May 2, for the offences committed between 1977 and 1984.

Clifford watched the Court of Appeal hearing via prison video link on Thursday, October 9, and spoke to confirm his name.

Richard Horwell QC, defending, argued the sentence had been unfairly given due to Judge Anthony Leonard’s use of bad character references and the evidence of molestation of a 12-year-old girl in Spain.

Mr Horwell said it "was out of the jurisdiction" and therefore should not have been used in sentencing.

He said bad character references were used to "aggravate" the sentence.

Mr Horwell said: "The offender is 71-years-old. He had underlying medical problems. The last offence was committed 29 years ago."

He stressed that since then, Clifford had lived a quiet life and said Judge Leonard agreed he was no longer a danger to women.

However, prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC said she supported Judge Leonard’s sentence and it was important for those who gave evidence, the jury, victims and members of the public, to see the length of sentence remain.

She said: "These were some of the most serious offences of their time."

Lord Justice Coleman Treacy spoke of the recent allegations and cases against those in the public eye.

He said: "They are coming out of the woodwork a generation or so later."

A date for the appeal ruling has not been given.