Leslie ‘always respectful’, Blue Peter stars tell court

FORMER colleagues of John Leslie, including Anthea Turner, have dismissed suggestions he is guilty of sexual assault insisting he is “incredibly respectful” towards women.

Ms Turner, who has known the former television host since the Eighties, said she had never heard any stories about him being inappropriate towards females and said he was “absolutely adored” by those who knew him.

She gave evidence in his defence, alongside fellow Blue Peter stars, Yvette Fielding and Diane-louise Jordan.

Mr Leslie, 55, is accused of grabbing a woman’s breasts at a Christmas party in London’s West End on Dec 5 2008.

But his former colleagues insisted he had always been a “gentleman” when dealing with them.

Ms Turner said she had felt it was “very important” to come to court and give evidence in his defence.

She told the jury at Southwark Crown Court she knew Mr Leslie incredibly well and added: “I would just like to mention, when he asked me to come I wanted to be here.”

Asked about his behaviour around women she said: “I am a woman. He was always respectful, incredibly respectful, with myself.”

Ms Turner said the team at Blue Peter had been largely female and “everybody loved him”, adding that he was “absolutely adored by every woman I knew that worked with him”.

Ms Jordan also praised Mr Leslie, describing him as a “gentleman”. Asked what she thought about the 2008 allegation, she said: “This is not the man that I know, not at all.”

Miss Fielding gave evidence via video link. She said: “Never ever in the time that I have known John have I ever seen him behave in a disrespectful way towards any woman or man.”

Character evidence was also heard from Fern Britton, Mr Leslie’s former This Morning co-host.

In a statement read to the court, she said: “I can confidently say that the allegations that have been made about John do not sound like the man that I know in the slightest.”

Mr Leslie denies sexual assault and the trial continues.