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Freddie Starr: No prosecution over sex assault claims

Entertainer Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted for any offence following allegations of indecent assault, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

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Starr 'considered suicide' during abuse allegations

Freddie Starr said he seriously contemplated suicide when he was under police investigation for allegations of historic sex abuse.

Freddie Starr, 71, pictured with his lawyer Dean Dunham, yesterday outside his home. Credit: SWNS

At one point during the allegations, he was not allowed to be in the house alone with his daughter, or his wife's son, he told The Sun.

More: Starr's lawyer: 'This investigation has taken far too long'

The 71-year-old, who now relies on a wheelchair, said:

"I went to the doctors because my legs were shaking. I thought it was MS brought on by all this. But they said it was stress.

"I just had this feeling and was asking myself what the point was of carrying on. I was thinking 'just do it'. I was seriously considering it, but I wanted to clear my name".

Starr's lawyer: 'This investigation has taken far too long'

The lawyer representing Freddie Starr has criticised police after the announcement the entertainer would not be prosecuted following claims of indecent assault.

Dean Dunham said: "We are very critical of the police. This investigation has taken far too long. It's had a huge impact on Freddie's health, a huge impact on his family...We are pleased it has now come to an end."

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Lawyer: We're now concentrating on Freddie's health

Freddie Starr appeared briefly outside his home in Warwickshire alongside his lawyer Dean Dunham, who condemned the investigation and said the entertainer's health was now a priority.

Freddie Starr, 71, pictured with his lawyer today. Credit: SWNS Group

Mr Dunham said "there was simply never any evidence in this matter that was anywhere near sufficient" to keep his client on bail for so long.

Mr Dunham went on: "At the moment we need to concentrate on getting Freddie back to his health."The lawyer said there various courses of action open to Starr but now was not the right time to comment on them.

More: Freddie Starr: No prosecution over sex assault claims

"He's a man of good character, remains a man of good character, and I would ask the public now to stand by this man," he added."No doubt about it, his innocence has been proven."

Starr said he was "very relieved", adding: "I'm not feeling well, really."

Asked if he had a message for his fans, he said: "Thank you."

'Unwell' Freddie Starr thanks fans for support

Read: Freddie Starr: No prosecution over sex assault claims

CPS: Insufficient evidence to prosecute in Starr case

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that Freddie Starr should not be prosecuted for any offence. Baljit Ubhey, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said:

We have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Freddie Starr in relation to allegations of sexual offences made by 13 individuals. Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences.

In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest.

It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the Code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence.

Prosecutors have to consider whether there is enough evidence to bring a case to trial but deciding whether an offence has been committed is entirely a matter for courts and juries and every suspect is innocent until proven guilty. All of these decisions have been taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and our guidance for prosecutors on cases of sexual offences.

The complainants have been informed and we will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision.

The 71-year-old, from Warwickshire, was first arrested in November 2012 by detectives from sex crime inquiry Operation Yewtree, and was rebailed several times.

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