The police investigation into allegations of historic sex abuse involving Sir Cliff Richard has not shown much progress.
Sir Cliff, who denies the allegations, has neither been arrested nor charged even though the investigation began in August 2014.
South Yorkshire Police kicked off the probe with a highly-publicised raid on the singer’s home in Berkshire while Sir Cliff was at his villa in Portugal. They were responding to a claim by a man who said the performer had groped him in the 1980s.
Subsequently two further allegations were made to detectives. It is believed that one of these has been dropped as detectives could not find any corroborating evidence.
According to the Sunday Times, friends of the star have said lawyers for Sir Cliff were able to provide evidence that he was not alone with his accusers when they claim the abuse took place.
A source told the newspaper that as a result one of the three allegations will no longer be considered.
Neither a spokesman for the police, nor the singer, would comment on the progress of the police investigation.
The BBC received heavy criticism for the live broadcast of the raid on Sir Cliff’s home last year. The police were criticised for failing to inform him and letting him learn of the allegations through the media.
Sir Cliff will mark his 75th birthday with a concert tour ending with five nights of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. During the course of his career, some 250 million of his records have been sold.
