TV LESLIE ‘GROPED WOMAN & LAUGHED’

Court hears of sex assault claim

FORMER Blue Peter presenter John Leslie laughed as he grabbed a woman’s breasts at a Christmas party, a court has heard.

Leslie, 55, is accused of attacking the woman at a gathering in London’s West End more than a decade ago.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward told Southwark crown court yesterday that the woman recognised Leslie at a bar and approached him.

She said they smiled at each other and went on: “Without saying anything further he grabbed both of her breasts with both of his hands and laughed as he did so.”

Ms Ledward said Leslie then walked away “as if what he had done was completely acceptable”.

The woman did not think her complaint would be taken seriously at the time but told a “shocked friend” about it, the court heard.

It was only in late 2017, after t he MeTo o campa ign became prominent, that the complainant decided to come forward. Leslie, whose full name is John Leslie Stott, voluntarily attended a police interview in March 2018, at the end of which he stated: “I have not attacked or assaulted anyone ever.”

He denies sexual assault by intentionally touching the woman without her consent on December 5, 2008. The trial opened yesterday but the jury had to be discharged in the afternoon. Judge Deborah Taylor told the court a juror was “unable to carry on” so she had decided to discharge this jury and swear in another.

Judge Taylor said the case would start afresh today. Leslie, from Edinburgh, appeared on Blue Peter between 1989 and 1994 and also presented Wheel Of Fortune and This Morning.

His father Les was at the social ly distanced hearing.

ACCUSED Leslie

MASK Leslie arrives for court date