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Brian Lawless/PA Wire
UK News

Sir Cliff hopeful of closure after prosecutors stand by decision not to charge him

A second Victims' Right to Review assessment prompted by one of the Christian entertainer's accusers concluded it was right he should not be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has revealed.

The 75 year old reacted to the decision, saying: "As I have said previously I'm innocent, so I'm obviously pleased with today's CPS decision and the speed with which they reached it. I hope that it brings this matter to a close."

It emerged in June Sir Cliff would not be prosecuted over allegations of historical sexual abuse by four men dating back to between 1958 and 1983.

One allegation was that he sexually abused a boy at a Billy Graham rally in 1985.

On separate occasions, two accusers subsequently used the Victims' Right to Review procedure to lodge complaints against the decision by prosecutors.

After the CPS confirmed it had received a second challenge to its decision not to charge Sir Cliff over the allegations, a source told The Sun newspaper earlier this month: "He has stopped eating and can't sleep.

"He's totally consumed by this and at breaking point with frustration. He thought the whole thing was over. Those close to him are really worried."

A CPS spokesperson said: "On 16 June, the CPS announced that no criminal charges were to be brought as a result of Operation Kaddie.
 
"The CPS subsequently received applications to review two of the charging decisions under the Victims Right to Review scheme.

"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."

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