World News
Chief Crown Prosecutor Clears Sir Cliff Richard of Sex Offense Allegations
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LONDON – British prosecutors said last night that Singer Sir Cliff Richard, one of Britain’s best-known Âentertainers, will not face criminal charges over alleged historical sex crimes because there is insufficient evidence.
Chief Crown Prosecutor for Yorkshire and Humberside Martin Goldman,said “We have carefully Âreviewed the evidence relating to claims of non-recent sexual Âoffences dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men and have decided that there is insufficient evidence to Âprosecute”.
Sir Cliff Richard has never been Âarrested but twice voluntarily met officers from South Yorkshire Police after it launched an inquiry in 2014. He told the press “I have always maintained my innocence, co-operated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point”, adding that his reputation might never recover.
“I was named before I was even interviewed (by police) and for me that was like being hung out like ‘live bait’,†Sir Cliff said.
“There have been numerous occasions in recent years where this has occurred, and I feel very strongly that no innocent person should be treated in this way.â€
Richard, born Harry Webb in 1940 and who was called ÂBritain’s Elvis Presley early in his career, has had 14 No 1 singles in Britain.
He is the only singer to have topped the British singles chart in five consecutive decades, from the 1950s to the 90s, and was knighted in 1995. – Reuters