Concern South Yorkshire taxpayers will be punished by possible Sir Cliff legal payout

Some readers are concerned that the taxpayer will have to foot the bill if pop star Sir Cliff Richard sues South Yorkshire Police and wins after he was named as a suspect in child abuse allegations.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Jun 2016, 11:53 BST

Updated 25th Aug 2016, 20:47 BST

Many on social media urged the veteran entertainer not to carry out the legal challenge but others said he had ‘every right’ to.

Sonia Wilson said: “I can understand his anger. It was very badly handled. However if he sues and wins I it will be us who pays as we fund both the police and the BBC.”

David Henery said: “By suing the police all that will happen is an apology and a big bill for South Yorkshire taxpayers to pay through their rates.”

The veteran entertainer said he thought he was ‘going to die’ as a result of the stress brought on by the probe, including that he had assaulted a teenage boy in Sheffield in the mid 1980s.

The case against him was dropped this month by the Crown Prosecution Service.

A police search of the 75-year-old’s Berkshire home was broadcast live by the BBC after a police tip-off.