Cops took private note Princess Diana had sent to Sir Cliff Richard as evidence during raid on his home

TORMENTED Sir Cliff has revealed how police took a private note from Princess Diana as evidence during the raid on his home.

The singer watched officers rummaging through and taking his personal belongings after the search was aired live on the BBC.

He described having the “greatest knot” in his stomach and said it felt like seeing “burglars” poking through his things as he watched from a hotel room in Portugal.

The 75-year-old also admitted his anxiety over the false abuse claims became so bad he thought he was “going to die”.

Sir Cliff has blasted South Yorkshire Police and the BBC for what he describes as a “collusion” which saw the raid broadcast to millions.

The corporation yesterday issued an apology for the “distress” caused but said it “stands by the decision” to report on the search.

Speaking of watching the raid, Sir Cliff said: “I didn’t vomit but the greatest knot in the stomach arrived.

“It was like a boulder.

“You just have that, ‘God, what is happening to me?’

“And it’s a fear because it’s slightly the unknown.

“It was like watching, I mean, could you imagine burglars rummaging around?

“They weren’t stealing but they were taking my items without my permission.

“The thing about it is, the police don’t need permission.

“If they’re investigating and they have a warrant, they can take what they feel is relevant.

“I still can’t figure out what’s relevant about postcards my mum sent me or a little private note from Princess Diana.”

Sir Cliff’s 22-month ordeal finally came to an end last week when the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Sir Cliff said he felt he was treated as a criminal despite the claims against him being littered with holes, saying: “I was not accepted, I don’t think, as innocent. They assumed I was guilty.”

This has damaged me for ever - I can never forget what they've done to me

He plans to undergo a series of medical tests to find out if he has suffered any long-lasting ill effects from the strain.

An extract from the diary he kept during the investigation reads: “I wake up in the mornings now and I feel I am disappearing.

“I look in the mirror and this other old geezer looks back at me.”

The stress led to sleepless nights and at one point the singer thought he was dying.

He said: “I was due to be playing tennis the day after the break-in.

“I play with a pro.

“I went ahead but could hardly lift my arm up. I was told, ‘Just take it gently’, but I couldn’t do that either.

“I couldn’t understand what was happening to me.

“I thought I was going to die.

“I told my coach what had been happening and he said, ‘Your brain is just not working right and it’s affecting your body’.

“The stress is physical, not just mental.”

Sir Cliff added he feels an enormous sense of gratitude towards the public, but believes he will never be able to put the ordeal behind him.

He said: “I don’t see how anything like this can ever go back into the memory bank and be deleted.

“I can’t imagine ever forgetting what these people have done to me.

“It has damaged me in many, many ways.”