Sir Cliff Richard admitted that sex abuse allegations left him on the verge of suicide
Star made shock confession yesterday after raid on his home was broadcast live as he 'wept on the floor' of Portuguese villa
SIR Cliff Richard admitted yesterday that sex-abuse allegations left him on the verge of suicide.
The veteran singer, 75, feared being wrongly jailed when police raided his Berkshire home 22 months ago.
Sir Cliff wept on the floor of his Portuguese villa as it was televised.
He said: “That first day was probably the lowest.
“I thought, ‘I am never going to get out of this mess.
“I might end up in prison for something I didn’t do’.”
He went on: “Had that gone on, I don’t know, I may have been suicidal.
“I guess most suicides are done with helplessness, not able to change something or feeling that you’re incapable of anything.
“Now when I look back I think, ‘Wow I actually survived it’.”
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The CPS dropped charges last week but the stress left Sir Cliff too weak to walk.
He also developed shingles so bad black scabs formed on his face.
Speaking to pal Gloria Hunniford, 76, on ITV’s Loose Women, he said: “I went to France, I fell down steps.
“My teeth went through my lower lip.
I had to have 12 stitches on the outside and some on the inside.”
In an earlier interview he suspected “collusion” led to a raid of his home in Sunningdale, Berks, being broadcast live on the BBC.
That first day was probably the lowest
Sir Cliff said: “I’ve never known investigations take place with lighting and cameras and special angles for the helicopter.”
The star did a string of interviews yesterday but insisted he will never speak publicly about his sexuality, saying: “Some things will go with me to my grave.
If adults do what they want to do be- hind bedroom doors it’s up to them.”
It also emerged last night that the mansion, which he said was “defiled” by the raid, has been sold for a knock-down £2.9million.
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