BBC ruined my life, says Cliff Richard of police raid
LONDON: Singer Sir Cliff Richard’s lawyers have told a High Court judge that he should get compensation at the ‘very top end of the scale’ because BBC coverage of a police raid on his home caused him ‘great damage’.
Lawyers told a High Court judge that BBC coverage of a raid was a ‘very serious invasion’ of his privacy.
Richard, 77, is suing BBC over coverage of officers swooping on his apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014 following an allegation of sexual assault.
Richard, who denied wrongdoing and was not charged with any offence, said he suffered ‘profound and longlasting damage’ as a result of the coverage and wants damages.
The singer claims the BBC’s coverage was shocking, humiliating and distressing for him, and that it caused him to put his home up for sale, threw his creative and business plans into disarray, and led to him incurring legal costs of around £1 million.
However, BBC has insisted that its coverage in August 2014 was in the public interest.
Justice Mann is overseeing the trial at the High Court in London, which is due to last 10 days.
South Yorkshire Police agreed to pay Cliff Richard £400,000 after settling a claim he brought against the force, Justice Mann heard.
The singer initially sued the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after complaining about coverage of the raid.