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Yui Mok/PA Wire
UK News

Sir Cliff Richard wins privacy case against BBC

The 77-year-old singer took legal action against BBC bosses over broadcasts of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014, following a child sex assault allegation.

Announcing his ruling, Mr Justice Mann said the BBC had infringed the star's privacy rights in a "serious and sensationalist way".

He awarded Sir Cliff £210,000 damages for the "general effect" on his life and said he is entitled to recover further sums for the financial impact on the star, which will be decided at a later date.

The judge oversaw a trial at the High Court in London during April and May.

During the hearing Sir Cliff told the judge that coverage, which involved the use of a helicopter, was a "very serious invasion" of his privacy.

The BBC disputed his claims and senior editors said the coverage was accurate and in good faith.

Mr Justice Mann heard that, in late 2013, a man made an allegation to the Metropolitan Police, saying he had been sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff during an event featuring evangelist Billy Graham at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane football stadium, in 1985, when he was a child.

Metropolitan Police officers passed the allegation to South Yorkshire Police in July 2014.

Sir Cliff denied the allegation and was never arrested, and in June 2016 prosecutors announced that he would face no charges.

South Yorkshire Police had agreed to pay Sir Cliff £400,000 after settling a claim he brought against the force.

Speaking to Premier last year, Sir Cliff explained how his Christian faith had pulled him through the difficult time in his life.

"What supported me best was when everybody said 'goodnight' and then I was on my own, and when you're on your own you know you're not. When you're a Christian you know that you could speak to God whatever you want to, and I did," he said.

"To have someone make a false accusation about you and have it publicly displayed, it's impossible to explain what that feels like unless you've been through it. So it was a very difficult time and it left me in despair, and it has damaged me."

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