John Leslie faces 'no further action' over rape claim
John Leslie to face no further action over rape allegation
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Wednesday, 23, Jul 2008 05:37
John Leslie will face no further action over a rape allegation made last month, police have confirmed.
The former Blue Peter was questioned in connection with an allegation of rape and sexual assault in 1995.
In a statement to journalists in London after his arrest in June this year, he said the fresh claims were "totally untrue" and accused the claimant – who is granted anonymity – of "dragging my name through the mud".
And the Metropolitan police has now confirmed the charges have been dropped following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
"Yet again, after a complete and thorough investigation, it has been confirmed that there is no truth or substance to the damaging allegations that were made against our client last month," said a statement released by Mr Leslie's law firm on his behalf.
"He is of course delighted. The complaint was ridiculous, but yet again and for a second time his name has been dragged through the mud before the law has had a chance to confirm his innocence.
"The law confers a blanket of anonymity on complainants but the accused enjoys no such protection.
"Instead his reputation, his character, his career and his family are regarded as fair game by the media."
The statement added: "There is little justice and no fairness in what our client and his family have been put through."
The Sun newspaper had reported that the alleged 1995 attack took place at a party at Mr Leslie's London home.
The involvement of Edinburgh-born Mr Leslie in connection with the alleged rape of TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson was implied on a Five talkshow after the publication of her autobiography - though she herself had not named him - while he later faced charges of attacking a different woman twice between May 25th and May 28th in 1997.