Cliff Richard settles legal battle with police over BBC sex offender reports
The singer was the subject of an investigation centring on accusations dating between 1958-83
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Sir Cliff Richard has settled a legal battle which saw the singer sue the BBC and South Yorkshire Police over reports which named him as a suspected sex offender.
Richard sought to claim damages following media coverage of a police raid on his home in 2014.
The singer found himself at the centre of a long-running investigation over four sexual assault allegations dating between 1958 and 1983.
After strenuously denying all claims, Richard's case was dropped last year with South Yorkshire Police apologising “wholeheartedly for the additional anxiety caused”.
The singer of such hits as 'Summer Holiday' and 'Millennium Prayer' released a statement shortly after stating that he was "hung out like live bait."
Sir Cliff accused the BBC of broadcasting the police raid purely for entertainment, adding that the news channel had added 'insult to injury' by submitting its coverage in a 'Scoop of the Year' journalism contest.
Police had previously claimed they were 'strong-armed' into giving a BBC reporter information about an investigation into Sir Cliff Richard.
The BBC remains at war with the singer. In 2014, BBC Director-General Tony Hall refused to apologise for the channel's coverage of the raid.
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