Cliff’s relief as he is finally cleared in sex abuse probe
Duchess is radiant in red for date with history
SIR Cliff Richard told of his relief yesterday as he was cleared of historic sex abuse claims – for the second time.
The singer, 75, said he was “obviously pleased” that a senior Crown lawyer has upheld an earlier decision not to prosecute him.
Sir Cliff endured 22 months of hell while detectives investigated allegations of sexual assault against him.
He was told by the Crown Prosecution Service in June that there would be no charges. But two alleged victims exercised their right to have the decision reviewed.
Yesterday the CPS upheld ruling not to prosecute.
Sir Cliff said: “As I have said previously, I’m innocent, so I’m obviously pleased with the CPS decision and the speed with which they reached the THE Duchess of Cambridge dazzled in a red Preen dress when she joined Prince William for a historic reconciliation ceremony with Canadian First Nation groups yesterday.
Kate was the epitome of glamour at a reception for political and civic leaders from across British Columbia.
She and William mingled with 200 guests in the ballroom of Government House in Victoria, the monarch’s official residence in the province.
But before the reception they joined a group including First Nation representatives for a ceremony designed to heal the wounds of conflict between indigenous people and Canada’s government.
Snubbed
Assisted by two Indian chiefs, William, 34, added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod, a ceremonial staff of British Columbia’s legislature modelled on the one used in Parliament in London.
One of the most influential Indian chiefs in British Columbia snubbed the ceremony in protest at the treatment of his people by the federal government.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, leader of 115 First Nation tribes in British Columbia known as the Union of BC Chiefs, said he was boycotting the ceremony because it was a charade.
Kate wore the Queen’s maple leaf brooch on her dazzling dress.
The brand was set up in London by husband and wife Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi. Samantha Cameron is among their customers. it. I hope that it brings this matter to a close.”
His ordeal began in August 2014 when South Yorkshire Police invited the BBC to film them raiding Sir Cliff’s £3.5million home in Berkshire.
Sir Cliff, who was in Portugal, was devastated by the inquiry.
It was launched after claims that the singer abused a teenage boy at a Billy Graham Christian rally in Sheffield in 1985. Other men came forward to make similar claims.
The CPS said yesterday: “A CPS lawyer who was not involved in the original decision-making process now has completed a full review of the evidence and has concluded that the decisions not to charge Sir Cliff were correct.”