The BBC journalist who revealed that Sir Cliff Richard was under investigation for an alleged sexual assault has said he guessed the singer’s identity based on internet rumours and was surprised when police confirmed details of the case.

Dan Johnson told a court that the story came about by chance, after he met a source and speculated on whether any more celebrities could be investigated by police over claims of historical sexual abuse.



“The contact said there was just one more major figure the police were looking at,” said Johnson. “I guessed this to be Sir Cliff Richard because of previous rumours I had heard about him. The contact confirmed that I had guessed the right name.”



Johnson said that when he put the story to South Yorkshire police, he was “very surprised” to be swiftly offered a meeting with the lead officer on the case, who “voluntarily relayed details about the investigation”, including the precise nature of the accusation and the timings of a planned police raid on one of Richard’s homes.

He claimed South Yorkshire police’s press officers even discussed whether it would be possible for BBC cameras to get a clear shot of the police searching the property for TV news.

Johnson insisted he had never made any suggestion Richard was guilty. However, he admitted emailing colleagues to say he was investigating “celebrity paedos”.

“I’d suggest to you that’s not the email of a responsible journalist,” replied Richard’s lawyer.



Richard was never arrested or charged in relation to the investigation, which involved a claim of historical sexual abuse against a boy under the age of 16. The incident supposedly took place following an appearance by the evangelical preacher Billy Graham in Sheffield during the 1980s.

The singer is now seeking damages and costs from the BBC following its decision to report on the police raid in August 2014, arguing that its coverage was a “very serious invasion” of his privacy, which caused his mental and physical health to suffer. The broadcaster insists it was within its rights to report on a police investigation concerning serious accusations against a high-profile individual.



Richard was joined in court by supporters. He remained quiet as the judge watched footage of the police raid on his house in Berkshire, which was filmed from a helicopter and showed police officers walking around inside the property while looking for evidence.



The BBC reporter was also asked whether he felt responsible for the distress caused to Richard. “I accept the distress he feels,” replied Johnson. “I don’t accept this was caused by me uniquely. South Yorkshire police were part of that. I have many colleagues at the BBC who were part of the story as well.



“I don’t believe I was at fault. I reported the facts of the story.”

