Sir Cliff Richard to fly home over child sex abuse claim
DETECTIVES investigating a child sex allegation against Sir Cliff Richard were following up new leads last night.
Sir Cliff Richard has denied the allegations that he sexually assaulted a boy in 1985
**CLICK HERE TO SEE CLIFF'S LIFE IN PICTURES**
Cliff with his late mother Dorothy and sisters Joan and Donna
Allegations against me of historic impropriety have been circulating online
Yesterday he is believed to have returned to his £3million Algarve villa with youngest sister Joan Pilgrim, 64, to make arrangements to fly back to Britain.
He had left the property – which is close to his own vineyard – on the morning before police raided his penthouse apartment near Sunningdale, Berks.
A team of eight plain-clothes officers spent five hours searching the £3.5million apartment in an exclusive private development. They left in a convoy of five unmarked vehicles after removing a number of items for further analysis – believed to include computers.
The investigation was launched after a man, now in his 40s, came forward and accused the singer of assaulting him at a Billy Graham evangelical rally at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football stadium in 1985.
Allegations against me of historic impropriety have been circulating online
Yesterday he is believed to have returned to his £3million Algarve villa with youngest sister Joan Pilgrim, 64, to make arrangements to fly back to Britain.
He had left the property – which is close to his own vineyard – on the morning before police raided his penthouse apartment near Sunningdale, Berks.
A team of eight plain-clothes officers spent five hours searching the £3.5million apartment in an exclusive private development. They left in a convoy of five unmarked vehicles after removing a number of items for further analysis – believed to include computers.
The investigation was launched after a man, now in his 40s, came forward and accused the singer of assaulting him at a Billy Graham evangelical rally at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football stadium in 1985.
Police convoy leaving the estate yesterday
The singer said he would “fully co-operate” with the investigation and his lawyers are understood to have been in contact with South Yorkshire Police.
Yesterday a source close to Sir Cliff told the Daily Express: “The police have said they want to talk to him. He has nothing to hide and is willing to return to the UK to answer their questions.”
The furious star told how he was shocked to learn of the search after live TV images were beamed around the world.
Yesterday South Yorkshire Police and Thames Valley Police – whose officers were also involved in the operation – denied leaking details of the raid to the BBC.
But police said the coverage had led to developments in the case.
The singer said he would “fully co-operate” with the investigation and his lawyers are understood to have been in contact with South Yorkshire Police.
Yesterday a source close to Sir Cliff told the Daily Express: “The police have said they want to talk to him. He has nothing to hide and is willing to return to the UK to answer their questions.”
The furious star told how he was shocked to learn of the search after live TV images were beamed around the world.
Yesterday South Yorkshire Police and Thames Valley Police – whose officers were also involved in the operation – denied leaking details of the raid to the BBC.
But police said the coverage had led to developments in the case.
Sir Cliff enjoying sunshine at his vineyard in Portugal last week in a picture posted on Facebook
South Yorkshire Police said: “Since the search took place a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful.”
Police said that when news of the planned operation leaked out they took the decision to work with the media “to protect the integrity of that investigation”.
On Thursday Sir Cliff said he had been the target of a long-running whispering campaign on the internet.
He said: “For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.”
The investigation re-ignited the debate over whether potential suspects in sex cases should be granted the same anonymity as alleged victims.
Yesterday Sir Cliff won the backing of comedian Freddie Starr – who spent 18 months on bail before learning in May he would not be prosecuted over sex assault allegations. Freddie, 71, said the probe “shows why nobody should be named until at least charged with an offence”. He said: “Naming me via the media caused me hell.”
He wrote on Twitter: “By naming people via media the notion of innocent until proven guilty is thrown out of the window.
“Makes me so angry as I know how it feels.
“Being accused when you know you’re innocent is stressful enough but made worse when it’s played out in view of the public and persecuted publicly.
“My family and children went through hell because of the media attention...bullied and ridiculed...justice should be fair to all!”
Starr was arrested by detectives from Operation Yewtree, the high-profile sex probe launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
Yesterday thousands of fans bombarded Sir Cliff’s official Facebook page with messages of support. Many accused the police of a witch-hunt against the singer.
One fan said: “Good luck with it all Cliffy and I’m sure the next one to be accused is Elvis.”
Cliff Richard's house is searched
South Yorkshire Police said: “Since the search took place a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful.”
Police said that when news of the planned operation leaked out they took the decision to work with the media “to protect the integrity of that investigation”.
On Thursday Sir Cliff said he had been the target of a long-running whispering campaign on the internet.
He said: “For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.”
The investigation re-ignited the debate over whether potential suspects in sex cases should be granted the same anonymity as alleged victims.
Yesterday Sir Cliff won the backing of comedian Freddie Starr – who spent 18 months on bail before learning in May he would not be prosecuted over sex assault allegations. Freddie, 71, said the probe “shows why nobody should be named until at least charged with an offence”. He said: “Naming me via the media caused me hell.”
He wrote on Twitter: “By naming people via media the notion of innocent until proven guilty is thrown out of the window.
“Makes me so angry as I know how it feels.
“Being accused when you know you’re innocent is stressful enough but made worse when it’s played out in view of the public and persecuted publicly.
“My family and children went through hell because of the media attention...bullied and ridiculed...justice should be fair to all!”
Starr was arrested by detectives from Operation Yewtree, the high-profile sex probe launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
Yesterday thousands of fans bombarded Sir Cliff’s official Facebook page with messages of support. Many accused the police of a witch-hunt against the singer.
One fan said: “Good luck with it all Cliffy and I’m sure the next one to be accused is Elvis.”