Cliff Richard BBC case: Singer awarded £210,000 after successfully suing BBC for invasion of privacy

Sir Cliff Richard has been awarded more than £200,000 after winning a High Court battle against the BBC over its coverage of a police raid on his home.

The 77-year-old singer claimed he was left "shocked and upset" when helicopter footage of officers searching his Berkshire home was screened on the 1pm news.

South Yorkshire Police had briefed a reporter from the corporation in advance of the August 2014 raid, which followed a child sex assault allegation.

But once Sir Cliff had been told he would not face any criminal charges, he sued the BBC and the police force over the damage done to his reputation and career.

Cliff Richard speaks outside court after the verdict
EPA

The BBC insisted it had a "strong journalistic right" to report on events at Sir Cliff's home, arguing a ruling against it would curb the media's ability to cover police investigations. After the verdict, the corporation said it was considering an appeal.

Ruling the singer should be awarded damages for invasion of privacy, Mr Justice Mann said: "Sir Cliff had privacy rights in respect of the police investigation, and that the BBC infringed those rights without a legal justification", he said.

"It did so in a serious way and also in a somewhat sensationalist way.

"I have rejected the BBC's case that it was justified in reporting as it did under its rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press."

Sir Cliff, who was supported by his close friend Gloria Hunniford, cried with relief after the ruling was announced.

He was greeted by applause from fans and a chorus of his hit Congratulations as he left court.

Sir Cliff has been awarded more the £200,000 in damages
PA

Speaking outside court, he appeared choked with emotion saying it was "going to take a little while" and that he was too emotional to talk, adding: "I hope you'll forgive me."

His lawyer Gideon Benaim said the singer never expected after 60 years in the public eye to have his "privacy and reputation tarnished in such a way".

The BBC refused to apologise and insisted it had run a "public interest story", Mr Benaim added.

He said "serious questions" should be asked about why the organisation tried so hard to preserve its "exclusive" story.

He added the singer was not interested in personal gain and his aim was to "right a wrong".

Sir Cliff's spokesman Phil Hall said: "It's been a very hard journey for him."

The singer outside court following the verdict
Sky News

South Yorkshire Police has already agreed a £400,000 damages figure for its handling of the raid but the BBC will have to shoulder 65 per cent of that bill.

The judge today said the BBC should pay £210,000 in general damages, including £20,000 because it nominated its coverage of the raid for a Royal Television Society Award.

However, the pay-out will be significantly higher once special damages are decided at a hearing on July 26.

The court heard Sir Cliff, who was not home at the time of the raid, only learned he was under police investigation as officers prepared to enter his home, and he then began fielding calls from friends who were watching events unfold on BBC News.

He fought back tears earlier this year as he told the civil trial he found watching the TV footage "shocking and upset" and it took a toll on his physical and mental health.

Sir Cliff arrives at the High Court
PA

"I felt as though everything I had worked for during my life - trying to live as honestly and honourably as I could - was being torn apart", he said.

"I felt forever tainted. I still do."

The star's barrister, Justin Rushbrooke QC, claimed the "media circus" around the police investigation would have left BBC founder Lord Reith "spinning in his grave".

"He (Sir Cliff) may have thought he was entitled to look back on his achievements with a degree of pleasure, enjoying the benefit of a lessening workload", he said.

"Instead he found his private life shattered, home violated, and his reputation around the world in shreds, all within the space of a few minutes."

The allegation was that the star had sexually abused a child at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane stadium in 1985. Prosecutors announced in 2016 that Sir Cliff would face no criminal charges.

BBC reporter Dan Johnson had learned of the police probe and contacted South Yorkshire Police, receiving a briefing on the pending raid as he prepared an exclusive report to air once officers had entered the Berkshire apartment.

Mr Rushbrooke told the court the BBC had let its desire for a scoop override proper editorial standards.

The judge rejected the BBC's argument that it reported the story accurately and "in good faith".

In a statement, BBC director of news Fran Unsworth said: "We are sorry for the distress that Sir Cliff has been through. We understand the very serious impact that this has had on him.

"We have thought long and hard about how we covered this story. On reflection there are things we would have done differently, however the judge has ruled that the very naming of Sir Cliff was unlawful. So even had the BBC not used helicopter shots or ran the story with less prominence, the judge would still have found that the story was unlawful; despite ruling that what we broadcast about the search was accurate.

"This judgment creates new case law and represents a dramatic shift against press freedom and the long-standing ability of journalists to report on police investigations, which in some cases has led to further complainants coming forward.

"This isn't just about reporting on individuals. It means police investigations, and searches of people's homes, could go unreported and unscrutinised. It will make it harder to scrutinise the conduct of the police and we fear it will undermine the wider principle of the public's right to know. It will put decision-making in the hands of the police.

"We don't believe this is compatible with liberty and press freedoms.

"For all of these reasons, there is a significant principle at stake. That is why the BBC is looking at an appeal."

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