Cliff prays for ‘justice’ in BBC court battle
SIR Cliff Richard was given just 35 minutes’ notice that a police raid on his home was to be shown on TV because BBC bosses were desperate for a scoop, a court heard yesterday.
At the veteran star’s privacy case corporation bosses were accused of trying “to make the headlines rather than report the news”.
At the High Court in London, Sir Cliff’s lawyers described the BBC’s coverage of a raid on the singer’s home as a “very serious invasion” of privacy and complained of television cameras being used to spy into someone’s home.
The 77-year-old singer is suing the broadcaster over coverage of officers swooping on his apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014 following an allegation of sexual assault.
Sir Cliff, who denied wrongdoing and was not charged with any offence, said he suffered “profound and long-lasting damage” as a result of the coverage and wants damages.
Barrister Justin Rushbrooke, QC, who is leading Sir Cliff’s legal team, said: “In a nutshell it is Sir Cliff’s case that the BBC’s coverage of the search was an invasion – indeed a very serious invasion – of his privacy for which there was no lawful justification.
“It is hard to encapsulate in words the sense of panic and powerlessness that must have been induced in him on August 14, 2014 when he realised that the BBC were relaying instantaneously and indiscriminately around the world highly sensitive and damaging information concerning himself – all based upon an allegation of serious criminal conduct which he knew to be entirely false.”
He told the judge: “What we are talking about is using TV cameras to spy into someone’s home at the time when their target is in the most vulnerable position imaginable, and then serve it up to the British public as the most sensational story imaginable.”
Mr Rushbrooke said Sir Cliff had been left with “no option” but to take legal action.
Gloria Hunniford also told the judge of the effect the BBC coverage had on Sir Cliff. Lawyers representing Sir Cliff said she was a “close and long-standing friend” of the singer and had made a witness statement.
The presenter was at court yesterday and hugged and kissed Sir Cliff after the hearing adjourned for lunch.
The BBC, whose head of newsgathering Jonathan Munro attended court, said its coverage of the raid was accurate and in good faith.
Lawyers representing BBC bosses told Mr Justice Mann that the raid was a “matter of legitimate public interest”.
Gavin Millar QC, for the BBC, said journalists had respected Sir Cliff’s rights as “the suspect” and “in particular the presumption of innocence”.
Mr Millar outlined the BBC’s defence in a written statement. He said Sir Cliff’s claim was the first claim of its kind to feature in a trial in England or Wales.
He said: “The BBC seeks to defend (Sir Cliff’s) claim, in essence, on the basis that its reporting of the search... was accurate and in good faith, was on a matter of legitimate public interest and respected the rights of (Sir Cliff) as a suspect, in particular the presumption of innocence.”
Lawyers have told Mr Justice Mann that in late 2013 a man made an allegation to the Metropolitan Police, saying he had been sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football stadium as a child in 1985.
Sir Cliff denied the allegation and in June 2016 prosecutors announced that he would face no charges.
The case is expected to last 10 days.