LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — Veteran British pop singer Cliff Richard will not face charges over allegations of historic sexual abuse.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced Thursday that Richard would face no further action after reviewing the results of a police investigation due to insufficient evidence.
“The CPS has carefully reviewed evidence relating to claims of nonrecent sexual offenses dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men,” said Martin Goldman, chief crown prosecutor for Yorkshire and Humberside in northern England.
“We have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute.”
In a statement released after CPS declined to prosecute, Sir Cliff said: "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."
“I was named before I was even interviewed and for me that was like being hung out like live bait," Cliff added. “No innocent person should be treated in this way.”
Cliff was one of numerous celebrities in the UK who were accused of historical sexual abuse after the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile was revealed to be a prolific serial pedophile.
Richard first made a name for himself as a pop artist in the 1950s and has since sold more than 21 million records on the strength of hits such as “The Young Ones,” “Living Doll,” “Summer Holiday,” “Congratulations,” “Mistletoe And Wine” and “The Millennium Prayer.” – Staff Writers
