Leslie makes plea for anonymity as police drop latest sex assault inquiry
FORMER TV star John Leslie has called for anonymity for people accused of sex crimes as it emerged he has been cleared of a sexual assault on a young woman.
It had been alleged that the woman was attacked in November following the Radio Forth Awards in Edinburgh.
But following a three-month investigation detectives have dropped the complaint.
Leslie, who was also cleared of two sexual assaults in 2003, has now called for a change in the law to ensure anonymity for those accused of committing sex crimes unless they are charged.
The 50-year- old appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme yes-
‘I am a totally innocent person’
terday and told viewers his life had been ‘destroyed’ for a second time following false allegations.
Leslie, who lost his job as a DJ on the Bauer Media radio network following the latest allegations, said: ‘I’m very emotional. It’s all been a bit of a shock. I never expected to be cleared so quickly, so I’m very thankful.
‘It had been ten years I’ve been trying to get my life back. Bauer Media gave me a job as a radio broadcaster and, just when I got the hang of it, it went wrong with the allegation. It’s been three months in a world of pain.’
Leslie said others in his position had been ‘kept on bail and they’ve got that hanging over them for a lot longer. So I thank Police Scotland for being thorough and being very good with the investigation and closing it down so quickly. I’m a totally innocent person.’
Calling for a change in the law, he said: ‘The accuser has to have anonymity and the same basic rights should be afforded to the accused.’
Leslie’s television career came crashing down in 2002 when Ulrika Jonsson claimed in her autobiography she had been raped by an ‘acquaintance’ and Leslie’s name was accidentally linked to this. In 2003, he was accused then cleared of indecently assaulting a 23-year-old actress in 1997.
He was dropped from his £200,000-ayear job presenting This Morning on ITV after claims he had taken cocaine, and was hit by more scandal when a sex tape of him and his then girlfriend Abi Titmuss appeared online. In 2008 he was again accused of rape but no charges were brought.
With the latest police probe dropped, he said: ‘I got the phone call and went round to mum and dad’s and said, “It’s over” and the relief was amazing.’