The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service has admitted that there is 'insufficient evidence to prosecute' Sir Cliff Richard who is said to be thrilled with the decision.
The singer, who has never been arrested or charged, spoke out after being told he will not be prosecuted over the claims almost two years after South Yorkshire Police raided his £2.5 million home in Berkshire having tipped off the BBC that it would do so enabling a news team to broadcast the raid, live from a helicopter.
One of the accusers, a paranoid schizophrenic man, ‘is one of Britain's worst serial rapists' but as he claims to be a victim of sexual abuse, is entitled to lifelong anonymity.
The man was one of nine to accuse Sir Cliff of abuse at the Elm Guest House in West London where VIPs were alleged to have abused boys but only now have police admitted that one of Sir Cliff's accusers is among Britain's worst sex offenders who currently is serving several a life sentences for a series of sex attacks and rapes.
The mentally ill man claimed that Sir Cliff sexually abused him in 1982 and blames the singer for turning him into a rapist. The man claimed he delivered drugs to the guest house and when he arrived was sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff.
Sir Cliff who has had property in the Algarve for decades, said he was “obviously thrilled” that the Crown Prosecution Service has closed the case, commenting “I have always maintained my innocence and co-operated fully with the investigation.”
South Yorkshire Police apologised, “wholeheartedly for the additional anxiety caused by our initial handling of the media interest" admitting that the failed case has cost about £800,000 to look into nine allegations against the pop-star.
The BBC has refused to apologise,‘We applied normal editorial judgements to a story that was covered widely by all media and have continued to report the investigation as it developed including the CPS’s decision today – which is running prominently across our news output.’
Sources at the BBC also pointed out that the Home Affairs Select Committee endorsed how it had handled the story - and the committee's chairman said the corporation acted ‘perfectly properly’.
Sir Cliff said yesterday, “After almost two years under police investigation I learnt today that they have finally closed their enquiries. I have always maintained my innocence, co-operated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point.
“Nevertheless, I am obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close.”
As for his silence throughout the period since August 2014, Sir Cliff added that he has chosen not to speak publicly since the raid on his home, other than to state his innocence, despite the “widely-shared sense of injustice resulting from the high-profile fumbling of my case from day one.”
Sir Cliff continued, “I was named before I was even interviewed and for me that was like being hung out like 'live bait'. It is obvious that such strategies simply increase the risk of attracting spurious claims which not only tie up police resources and waste public funds, but they forever tarnish the reputations of innocent people.
“There have been numerous occasions in recent years where this has occurred, and I feel very strongly that no innocent person should be treated in this way.”
The BBC news report, broadcast live from above Sir Cliff’s UK home, raised questions as to the use of license payers’ money and although Sir Cliff was never arrested or charged, many viewers said the BBC coverage was presented in a way that made him look guilty.
Politicians described the tip-off from the police to the BBC as ‘inept’ and causing ‘irreparable damage’ to the veteran singer's reputation.
South Yorkshire Police chief constable David Crompton, who later was suspended, feebly claimed that an investigation into the matter “failed to identify the source of the leak to the BBC” although few believe the investigation was thorough or had actually taken place.
As if to celebrate his return to a less cynical public eye, Sir Cliff appeared at the British Embassy’s Queen’s Birthday party in Lisbon on Thursday and was said to be in a relaxed mood as he chatted to guests.
