Police that raided Sir Cliff Richard's home were looking for child porn

Police had been searching for youngster abuse pictures after they raided Sir Cliff Richard's £3million condominium, it was claimed yesterday

Police had been searching for youngster abuse pictures after they raided Sir Cliff Richard's £3million condominium, it was claimed yesterday.

Detectives satisfied a Justice of the Peace to grant a search warrant as they hoped to search out 'gadgets associated to youngster sexual abuse' and 'media storage units' with indecent pictures to bolster their case.

The BBC was allowed to movie the raid on Sir Cliff's residence in a sweetheart cope with South Yorkshire Police as officers investigated historic allegations of kid sexual abuse in opposition to him.

Authorized papers lodged by the power within the Excessive Courtroom yesterday declare that officers feared there might be 'loss, destruction or concealment of proof' if the broadcaster aired the story, tipping off the singer.

However police later needed to apologise to the harmless star after nothing was discovered throughout their five-hour raid in Sunningdale, Berkshire.

It was televised reside by a BBC helicopter filming above as eight officers rifled by way of his belongings on August 14, 2014.

After a 22-month police investigation, prosecutors introduced in June that Sir Cliff wouldn't face any fees.

It then emerged that amongst these making spurious claims in opposition to him had been recognized fantasists, a rapist and a blackmailer. The revelation that police requested for a warrant to seek for youngster abuse pictures will heap additional humiliation on the singer, 76.

He has mentioned the wall-to-wall reside protection of the search of his luxurious residence whereas he was overseas was 'profoundly stunning, distressing, humiliating and embarrassing'.

He's in search of tens of millions in damages and prices, arguing that police and the broadcaster acted unlawfully, breaking safety legal guidelines and invading his privateness.

However yesterday a defiant South Yorkshire Police hit again in defence papers, claiming that the BBC ought to pay their prices and any damages awarded to the star because it was their publicity that brought on the issue.

A unprecedented confrontation has damaged out between the broadcaster and police about who ought to bear duty for the debacle.

The BBC claims it could by no means have damaged the story if police had not 'volunteered' details about their probe.

However yesterday South Yorkshire Police denied giving the BBC 'affirmation' of the inquiry.

The BBC was allowed to movie the raid on Sir Cliff's residence in a sweetheart cope with South Yorkshire Police as officers investigated historic allegations of kid sexual abuse

The power argued it solely 'reluctantly agreed' to co-operate after reporter Dan Johnson mentioned he had a 'vital quantity of personal data' on Sir Cliff from a police supply.

Jason Beer QC, for the power, mentioned that even with no deal, the BBC would nonetheless have printed its story that the star had been accused of molesting a boy in 1985. Subsequently, the power mentioned, the BBC ought to pay its prices within the row over compensation.

The settlement with the BBC was signed off by Chief Constable David Crompton.

Within the occasion, the CPS took simply weeks to reject all proof collected by detectives.

South Yorkshire Police has refused to pay compensation, arguing that Sir Cliff's declare was submitted too late.

Final evening his spokesman mentioned: 'We can not remark in any element save to reiterate Sir Cliff appears to be like ahead to the purpose at which a choose can decide based mostly on the proof.'

Yesterday the star mentioned in an interview on LBC radio being aired on Christmas Day that his ordeal had made his religion in God 'even stronger'. He revealed that forgiving his accuser was the turning level serving to him launch 'all that hate and anger'.

 

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