Cliff Richard's Berkshire home searched by police over historic sex abuse allegation

 
Investigation: Sir Cliff Richard on This Morning in November (Picture Rex / ITV)
Rex
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Police today searched Sir Cliff Richard’s home in Berkshire in connection with an allegation of a historical sex offence.

In a shock development South Yorkshire police announced they were investigating an allegation of a sexual assault involving a boy under 16 which dated from the 1980s.

A team of officers arrived at the luxury penthouse flat in Sunningdale this morning.

Sir Cliff is not believed to have been at home and it is understood he has not been arrested or interviewed by police.

Officers removed a number of items from the property and were seen in forensic gloves have been seen combing through personal property in the penthouse flat.

The search is not connected to the Operation Yewtree inquiry, police said but officers from the from the Met unit have been notified,a South Yorkshire Police spokesman added.

Sir Cliff, who was knighted in 1995, is understood to have been at a holiday home in Portugal.

In a statement, he refuted the allegations against him, adding he had been given "no notice" of the search.

He said: "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.

"However, the police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except it would appear to the press.

"I am not presently in the UK but it goes without saying that I will co-operate fully should the police wish to speak to me.

"Beyond stating that today's allegation is completely false it would not be appropriate to say anything further until the police investigation has concluded."

Sir Cliff, born Harry Webb, is one of the most successful British musicians of all time.

He has sold 21.5 million singles - more than any other male British artist and is the only performer to have had at least one UK top five album in each of the last seven decades.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Exclusive: police searching apartment belonging to Sir Cliff Richard after allegation of a sexual nature from 1980s <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/BvIYdxQfvX" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-196356-http://t.co/BvIYdxQfvX" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/BvIYdxQfvX</a>— Dan Johnson (@DanJohnsonNews) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/DanJohnsonNews/statuses/499888205496598528" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-196356-https://twitter.com/DanJohnsonNews/statuses/499888205496598528" data-vars-event-id="c23">August 14, 2014</a>

He has represented the UK in the Eurovision song contest twice and in 2013 released the 100th album of his career..

Knighted in 1995 he performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2012.

It is not known if Sir Cliff or his solicitors were informed of the search.

Born in India in October 1940, he moved to the UK as an eight-year-old and had his first hit in 1958 with “Move It”.

He is estimated to have sold 250 million records worldwide.

Richard, a committed Christian, is seen as a fixture of the British entertainment world.

He now spends much of his time in Barbados where he has been granted citizenship Barbados.

A spokeswoman for the star failed to respond to requests for comment.

South Yorkshire police issued a statement saying: ”South Yorkshire Police execute warrant at a property in Berkshire.

"South Yorkshire Police has gained entry to a property in the Sunningdale area of Berkshire."

"No one has been arrested and the owner of the property was not present."

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 search was not connected to Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree, launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, police said.

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