Pop star Cliff Richard wins US$274,000 in damages after BBC televised police raid
Richard had sued the broadcaster for its coverage of the 2014 raid, when police were investigating alleged sex offences
Veteran British pop star Cliff Richard won a long-running case against the BBC on Wednesday after it broadcast live on TV a police raid on his home over allegations that were later dropped.
In the High Court, Judge Anthony Mann said the BBC had infringed Richard’s privacy rights in a “serious” and “sensationalist” way and awarded him £210,000 (US$274,000) for the “general effect” on his life.
He said Richard was also entitled to further sums for the financial impact of the incident, which will be decided at a later date.
Richard, 77, was Britain’s first home-grown pop star and considered the country’s answer to Elvis Presley.
His home was raided in 2014 as part of an investigation into historical allegations of sexual assault.
But he was never arrested or criminally charged and was told in 2016 there was insufficient evidence against him.
“My life was effectively turned upside down and my reputation, worldwide, was unnecessarily damaged. I would not want the same to happen to others whether in the public eye or not,” Richard said in a statement at the start of his case.