John Leslie arrested on rape claim

John Leslie arrested again on rape claim, five years after being acquitted of similar charges

John Leslie has been arrested on charges of rape, five years after being acquitted of similar charges.

The 43-year-old TV presenter went voluntarily to a London police station to hear the claims being made against him over an alleged incident which took place in 1995, but which was only recently reported to officers.

'Officers are investigating an allegation of rape and indecent assault on a woman dating from November 1995,' a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told reporters last night.

'At approximately 7pm this evening a man aged in his 40s attended a London police station by appointment and was arrested in connection with the inquiry.

He was interviewed and bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late August.'

Five years ago, Leslie lost his job as co-host to Fern Britton on ITV's This Morning after he was named on television as being the alleged rapist of Ulrika Jonsson.

Subsequently, a 23-year-old actress came forward and claimed she had been sexually assaulted by Leslie, too, although he was cleared on both counts of indecent assault.

Sources close to Leslie, who now lives in Scotland and works as a property developer, claim he denies the latest allegation and will fight to clear his name again.

'John totally denies the accusations and believes he has been deliberately set up because of his past,' a friend told The Sun.

'He is co-operating fully with police and wants to get this out of the way as soon as possible so he can get on with the rest of his life.'