Sir Cliff Richard felt 'violent hate' towards person who accused him of sexual assault

Sir Cliff Richard has said he felt a "violent hate" towards the person who falsely accused him of a historical sex assault.

The singer's home was searched in 2014 after an allegation of a sex offence involving a boy under 16 dating back to the 1980s.

However, Sir Cliff, 81, always denied the claim and he was never arrested or charged.

Read more: ‘Disillusioned’ Cliff Richard has moved to US for good, says Gloria Hunniford

He also successfully sued the BBC for its coverage of the raid at his home in Berkshire.

Speaking out about what he went through in Channel 4's The Accused: National Treasures On Trial, the star said: "You cannot stop thinking about it."

The star said when he was with people he would be OK but that it would all flood back at night.

"Friends came to visit and that was great, we laughed together, we played tennis together and then you go to bed," he said.

"And then it all crowds back at you, how could someone do this?"

He went on: "I am feeling hate, a violent hate towards him, what would I do to him if I ever saw him, and I thought, I can’t live like this."

The We Don't Talk Anymore singer – who has opened up about how traumatic the experience was in the past – also said that he doesn't know the name of the person who accused him.

And he shared that he doesn't want to know their identity.

Read more: Cliff Richard wins privacy case against BBC over police raid of home

After what happened to him, the hitmaker is part of a campaign that says suspects should have their anonymity protected unless they are charged.

Watch: Sir Cliff Richard: Singer feared dying of heart attack after facing sex assault claim