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Sir Cliff Richard hopes battle over sex allegations has come 'to a close'

Sir Cliff Richard has been cleared of all sex abuse allegations after a court found the decision not to charge the star following a two-year investigation was correct.

Cliff Richard: WENN
Cliff Richard: WENN

Under Operation Kaddie, South Yorkshire Police raided Sir Cliff’s Berkshire mansion on live television two years ago without permission after they received accusations made by four men for alleged crimes dating between 1958 and 1983.

The veteran singer was never arrested and the case was finally dropped in June, but Sir Cliff endured a four-week wait for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review their decision after an elleged victim requested they revisit the case.

Sir Cliff Richard talks to Gloria Hunniford after his name was cleared of sexual assault allegations on 'Loose Women'. Broadcast on ITV1HD Featuring: Sir Cliff Richard When: 22 Jun 2016 Credit: Supplied by WENN
Sir Cliff Richard talks to Gloria Hunniford after his name was cleared of sexual assault allegations on ‘Loose Women’. Credit: WENN

The CPS said in a statement on Tuesday: ‘In accordance with the scheme, a CPS lawyer who was not involved in the original decision-making process has completed a full review of the evidence and has concluded that the decisions not to charge were correct.’

Sir Cliff, 75, said yesterday he is relieved he has been proved ‘innocent’.

He said: ‘As I have said previously, I’m innocent, so I’m obviously pleased with today’s decision.’

‘I hope it brings this matter to a close’

Cliff Richard: WENN
Cliff Richard: WENN

The Summer Holiday actor is ready to move on from the case, which has been ‘hanging over him’ for so long.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: ‘There was no case to answer, it was rubbish. It’s great news it has been dropped and rightfully so. It was people just trying to get money. This has been hanging over Cliff for a long time now and it will be an immense relief for him that the case is closed.

‘It’s been a tough time for him, but he didn’t allow it to affect his health like it did before … Now he is just focusing on his new album. It’s finally time for him to move on.’