Cliff Richard may face prosecution in sex abuse case
Police hand over their file of evidence to CPS
PROSECUTORS are considering whether to bring sex-abuse charges against Sir Cliff Richard after police finally gave them a ‘full file of evidence’.
Nearly two years after detectives started investigating historic allegations against the star, they announced yesterday that they had given a file to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The CPS will decide whether there is a realistic prospect of a conviction, and whether a prosecution would be in the public interest. It means Sir Cliff faces another lengthy wait before he learns whether he faces any action over the claims.
His supporters say the length of time he has been made to wait is already unacceptable. Only last month, the 75-year-old was pictured in New York looking frail and strained.
It emerged yesterday that he had been told by his lawyers several weeks ago that South Yorkshire Police were ready with a file of evidence, but the force and prosecutors kept the development secret until last night. The singer, who is deeply religious, has described the childsex claims as ‘absurd and untrue’ and told friends he has prayed for one of the three men who have made the accusations. Sir Cliff was first interviewed by detectives in August 2014 after a man claimed to have been groped by him as a boy at a Christian rally in 1985. Two more men came forward with allegations, but it is understood one has been dropped after officers were unable to back up the claim.
Sir Cliff was on holiday in Portugal when police swooped on his £3 million Berkshire home in a blaze of publicity after a secret deal was hatched between the BBC and South Yorkshire Police. Later that month, he flew back to the UK voluntarily to be ques- tioned by detectives, and he was questioned again last year.
Sir Cliff initially hoped he would be cleared within a few months, but the police probe has dragged on for almost two years, to the fury of his friends, fans and even his accusers.
The initial complainant, who said he was groped at a Billy Graham rally at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football ground in 1985, has criticised the handling of the case.
The man said earlier this year that he spoke to a police liaison officer in January, but did not hear anything for three months after that.
Police have been heavily criticised over the way the case against the singer has unfolded, with friends of the star likening it to a ‘witch-hunt’.
The raid of Sir Cliff’s home was recorded live by a BBC helicopter circling overhead. In a ‘sweetheart deal’, BBC journalists were given 18 hours’ notice of the raid, an aerial photograph of the singer’s apartment and even details of which gate the police would use.
The county’s former police and crime commissioner later found that the move ‘certainly interfered with Sir Cliff’s privacy and may well have caused unnecessary distress’.
Last year the singer’s representatives attacked the home affairs select committee for publishing a letter from Chief Constable David Crompton that revealed the investigation had increased ‘significantly’ in size and involved more than one allegation.
Sir Cliff ’s lawyers said the disclosure caused him a ‘further round of unnecessary and extremely damaging media coverage’.
Following the raid, Sir Cliff put his Berkshire home up for sale, telling friends he felt like he had been ‘ransacked by burglars’. He has also put his Portuguese vineyard on the market for more than £7.5million.
Earlier this year, DJ Paul Gambaccini, who was cleared of historical allegations of sexual abuse following a lengthy investigation, lent his support to Sir Cliff.
The broadcaster said Sir Cliff had asked God to ‘forgive’ one of his accusers.
He added: ‘This case is a disaster for Great Britain. Sir Cliff is one of the greatest Englishmen of the 20th century. This is a historic scandal.’
Last night a spokesman for the entertainer said: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment while the matter is under review.’
South Yorkshire Police said: ‘Investigation files relating to allegations of non-recent sexual abuse involving a 75-year- old man have been handed to the CPS. The CPS will now consider the matter and South Yorkshire Police awaits their decision.’
The CPS said: ‘We have received a full file of evidence from South Yorkshire Police. We will now carefully consider its content.’
‘Historic scandal’