BBC will not appeal Sir Cliff Richard damages ruling to not 'prolong his distress'

The BBC has announced it will not appeal after losing a High Court case brought by Sir Cliff Richard over its coverage of a police raid on his home.

The BBC said appealing after losing the High Court case brought by Sir Cliff Richard over its coverage of a police raid on his home "would inevitably mean an expensive legal cul de sac and one that would simply prolong Sir Cliff's distress".

The corporation said: "Instead the BBC is writing today to ask the Government to consider a review of the law in this important area to protect the right to properly and fairly report criminal investigations, and to name the person under investigation.

"There is a fundamental principle of press freedom at stake here and one upon which we believe Parliament, as our lawmakers, should decide."

Sir Cliff was awarded £210,000 in damages last month over the broadcaster’s report that the singer was being investigated about historical child sexual assault claims.

Mr Justice Mann awarded him £190,000 damages plus a further £20,000 in aggravated damages for the corporation’s decision to nominate its story for the Royal Television Society’s scoop of the year award.

A spokesman for Sir Cliff Richard said today: “Sir Cliff reluctantly took his case to court because he felt his privacy had been flagrantly invaded and disappointingly the BBC were not prepared to acknowledge that and apologise.

"He welcomes the fact the BBC have decided not to seek permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal, particularly after the Judge gave his Judgment that they had no grounds on which to pursue such an action. Sir Cliff now hopes that outstanding issues can be resolved quickly.”

Additional reporting by PA