Rape Allegations
In October 2002, Ulrika Jonsson wrote in her autobiography that a television presenter had raped her at the beginning of her career when she was his junior. Amid media speculation, Matthew Wright disclosed - by accident - on his television show The Wright Stuff, that Leslie was the alleged person. Jonsson refused to tell the public or the police whether the correct person had been named. Shortly afterwards, several other women made accusations relating to indecent assault by Leslie, who was arrested and charged with assaulting a woman twice between 25 and 28 May 1997. He was never charged with offences against Jonsson.
The police dropped the charge against Leslie on 31 July 2003. On the court steps after his clearing, Leslie said that he had "been to hell and back" and that he had "maintained innocence throughout".
In January 2006 Leslie was interviewed for the BBC series My Childhood in which he analysed his childhood memories with psychiatrist Linda Treliving. In the programme Leslie admitted that he "had never learnt how to treat women with respect" and "never learnt how to chat up women", admitting that he abused drugs, but claiming he did so as a result of childhood trauma. Shortly afterwards in an interview with The Independent he repeated this version of events, admitting "my behaviour was at times inappropriate".
On 23 June 2008 British media reported that Leslie had again been arrested in relation to an alleged rape that happened in November 1995. Again, no charges were brought.
Read more about this topic: John Leslie (television Presenter)