The former television presenter John Leslie has been cleared of sexual assault after the charge was found not proven in a trial at Edinburgh sheriff court.
The former Blue Peter host, 53, had denied putting his hand down a woman’s trousers and touching her bottom as they danced during her hen night celebrations in the Atik nightclub in Edinburgh last June.
Giving evidence under his real surname, Stott, he said: “There was no sexual assault. I did not put my hands down her trousers. It’s something I would never do and have never done. I’m upset at the allegation.”
He said she asked him to dance and he did so in a “proper and very respectful manner”. Once the dance ended, she continued to dance with her friends “as if nothing had happened”.
In her evidence, the alleged victim – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said Leslie put his hand down the back of her trousers and touched her bottom. She cried as she said she had nothing to gain by making up the allegation and said it had affected her relationships with her friends and her husband.
One of her friends told the court she felt where Leslie had his hands was “inappropriate” and the complainant looked “scared”.
The sheriff said he found it a “difficult decision” as the evidence from the complainant to be “on its own appears to be a credible and reliable account”. He said taking the case as a whole the evidence from the defence “adds up to a combination of factors” that caused reasonable doubt.
Speaking outside court, Leslie told reporters: “First of all, I’m obviously relieved at the court’s verdict today, clearing my name. Because I know I did nothing wrong that night a year ago and I’ve said so from the very beginning.
He said CCTV and DNA “prove that no assault took place”. Experts said Leslie’s DNA was found on the back waistband of the trousers but could have been transferred by indirect contact. “It’s now time to move on from this year of hell,” Leslie said.
“I’d like to thank my mum, dad and my brother and those close to me for getting me through this ordeal. Without their support, I wouldn’t be here today. It’s been quite a process. That’s all I can say.”
Responding to a question on the verdict of not proven, his father, who was standing beside him, said: “It doesn’t leave any doubt, he is innocent, absolutely, positively innocent.”
In court, Leslie said that, when police initially told him of the allegation of sexual assault, he replied: “That’s just not happened,” and told them to check the CCTV. He said he asked the club owner to keep the footage and paid to have it enhanced, telling the court: “I knew that I had done nothing wrong, I knew the allegations were false and I wanted every angle possible to show it.”
The DJ that night gave evidence saying Leslie had been a “perfect gentleman” while dancing with the woman.