Sir Cliff Richard: child abuse investigation

[CRAZY-HORSE]

UK police search singer Cliff Richard's property in sex crime probe

9NEWS

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: left"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]






British police have searched a property belonging to veteran singer Sir Cliff Richard as part of an investigation into an allegation of abuse against a boy at a Christian rally decades ago.
The 73-year-old, a star since the 1950s who won fame with songs such as "Devil Woman" and "Living Doll", was not present at the time of the search at the home in the southern English county of Berkshire.
Eight police searched the property for five hours, and removed several boxes of material.
9NEWS understands the alleged abuse took place at a rally for evangelist Billy Graham. Richard is a committed Christian.





August 15, 2014: British police have spent six hours searching the home of pop icon Sir Cliff Richard, over an alleged sex assault on a boy in the 1980s.
In a statement released from another of his homes in Portugal, Richard slammed the allegations.
"For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online," he said.
"The allegations are completely false."
South Yorkshire Police executed the search warrant.
"A search warrant was granted after police received an allegation of a sexual nature dating back to the 1980s involving a boy who was under the age of 16 at the time.

The Charters Estate, in which Sir Cliff Richard owns an apartment. Police searched the property today in response to historic sexual abuse claims. (AAP)
"No one has been arrested and the owner of the property was not present."
Richard has sold more than 250 million records over his career and has been nicknamed the Peter Pan of Pop for his enduring youthful looks.
A Christian who shunned the sex, drugs and alcohol lifestyle, the singer in 1995 became the first British rock star to be knighted.
FULL STATEMENT FROM SIR CLIFF RICHARD
"For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online.
"The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.



Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/world/2014/08/14...3f9HySZ.99