ROD THE MAD
Angry rocker backs Cliff over abuse smears legal fight. And even offers to help pay the bill
Rocker Rod Stewart has claimed his pal Cliff Richard has been persecuted over false child abuse smears.
Cliff has launched legal action against the BBC and South Yorkshire Police over a live TV raid on his home as part of a probe into false claims the singer was a paedophile.
Rod was speaking when the pair were at a charity do on Friday evening, even apparent ly offering to help pay the singer’s legal costs.
Rod said: “Pay attention please, Cliff. You’ve been persecuted, mate, and we all know it.
“We are one hundred million per cent behind you. You sue those b******* – I’ll give you half.”
Cliff was being honoured at the Pinktober charity bash in London run by his close friend Gloria Hunniford, who has offered unstinting support since the claims surfaced two years ago.
His move to sue emerged this month when papers were served at the High Court against the Beeb and the constable of South Yorkshire Police.
The force led the investigation into allegations against Cliff after a claim the singer molested a boy at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground in 1986.
Officers were filmed searching his luxury home in Berkshire in 2014, leading to him being publicly named as the subject of the probe.
When the case was dropped, Cliff said the Beeb’s decision to broadcast the raid left him feeling like “live bait”.
Tomorrow, the singer will lobby politicians in parliament in a bid to stop those accused of sex abuse being named before they are charged.
The pop icon wants a change in the law that would give anonymity to anyone suspected of rape or sexual assault unless they were facing trial.
He hopes it wi l l end the “witch-hunt” against celebrities and high- prof ile f igures who have had their reputations ruined by unfounded accusations without being charged with an offence.
Cliff will be joined in the House of Lords committee room by DJ Paul Gambaccini, who endured “12 months of hell” on bail for sex abuse claims he was never charged for.
At the charity event on Friday, Gloria presented Cliff with a cake to mark his 76th birthday.
She said: “We knew from the beginning there was absolutely nothing to these accusations.”
After auctioning himself off for £20,000, Rod revealed how much he looks up to Cliff.
He said: “He is about five years older than me but I think he’s incredible. He’s a proper rock star.”