A Surbiton couple whose son was found hanged in his prison cell have said they suffered a “year of hell” when they were suspected of historic sexual abuse.

Andrew and June Beadle, the mother and stepfather of Chessington rapist Robert Richards, were arrested on suspicion of historical rape and sexual abuse in April 2015. Almost a year later, the case against them has been completely dropped.

Richards was found dead days before his sentencing for the horrific rape of a pensioner that left his victim in hospital.

Mr Beadle, 54, said: “It has been absolute hell. To me and my wife it was just a joke.

“I’m a hard working person who has never done anything wrong. I was brought up the right way.

"I have cancer and diabetes and this just really, really destroyed us.”

Richards, 22, was found guilty of raping and attempting to murder a woman in her 70s in October 2013.

The former labourer was found unresponsive in his cell on July 29, 2014.

The Beadles, who have been married for 15 years, were woken at about 6am by “10 or 15” police officers at their door in Elm Road on April 10, 2015.

Mr Beadle said: “We were just completely shocked. We had no idea what they were on about when they read out why we were being arrested. It started a year of absolute hell for us.”

The couple were told in November that the investigation into the alleged abuse would not be pursued but had to wait until last week for a letter from their solicitor that confirmed police would take no further action.

The letter states: “No further action is being taken and that is the end of the matter. This now brings an end to these proceedings.”

Mr Beadle said: “People have just been harassing us. No one seems to believe these allegations are completely untrue. We just want to get that out there.

"That there is no evidence, that we were completely shocked and don’t know why someone would want to do this to us.”

Coroner Fiona Wilcox has called for a formal investigation into deaths at Wandsworth Prison after 11 men, including Richards, died at the category B prison between July 2014 and July 2015.

Mr Beadle said he did not want to talk about the actions of his stepson. He said: “He is not with us anymore and we don’t want to drag all that up. What’s done is done.

"I just want people to leave us alone. That is all we want because we haven’t done anything.”

A CPS spokesman said: “The CPS was asked by the Metropolitan Police to consider sexual assault and rape allegations between 2003 and 2007.

"Following careful consideration of the evidence in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors we decided there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

"We therefore advised the police in November of last year that no further action should be taken."