Did you, as I did, succumb to the temptation of searching Cliff Richard's name on Twitter following the news that his Berkshire home had been "raided" by the police? If you did, you will have seen that many appear to be in no doubt as to his guilt.

Notwithstanding Cliff's strongly worded statement that the allegation being investigated was "completely false", one of this country's most successful popstars is now the object of the scorn and derision that comes with an allegation of child abuse. No doubt his lawyers will be working overtime, but it's a damage limitation exercise from the time the police search was reported in the media, and this most abhorrent stain on his character will exist in some form whatever happens from here.

Remember, neither Cliff Richard nor anyone else have been arrested or charged by the police in connection with this investigation, let alone tried and convicted. Unless he is convicted, he must be presumed innocent – which is all very well for me to say, but hopeless wishful thinking when it comes to managing the mob's response on Twitter and other social media platforms.