John Leslie, 55, is spotted out walking with his hairdresser girlfriend, 27, in south west London weeks after the former Blue Peter presenter was cleared of sex assault
- John Leslie was seen out walking with Kate Moore, 28, in south-west London
- Walk with Leslie came weeks after he was found not guilty of sexual assault
- The television star, 55, had wept in court after being cleared by a jury in October
John Leslie has been seen out with his new girlfriend in the wake of his court battle which saw him cleared of sex assault.
The embattled former Blue Peter presenter went for a stroll with his new partner Kate Moore, 28, in south-west London this morning.
The pair, who were first seen together at the weekend, wrapped up as they went for a walk and grabbed a coffee in Wimbledon.
This comes weeks after the 55-year-old, who has been working as a property developer and a part-time DJ for the past decade, was cleared of assault by a jury at Southwark Crown Court, where he stood trial accused of groping a woman in Soho.
John Leslie went out for a walk with his new girlfriend Kate Moore in south-west London this morning
The pair, who were first seen together at the weekend, wrapped up as they went for a walk and grabbed a coffee in Wimbledon
Kate Moore, 28, is the glamorous woman seen holding hands with Leslie over the weekend
Ms Moore’s Instagram features photos of her posing with Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte as well as former TOWIE star Mark Wright.
Ten weeks ago she was in Berlin and posted a series of images and videos of her enjoying the trip.
Another glitzy image shows her relaxing in a bubble bath clutching a glass of champagne.
Pictures from the weekend showed the pair with their fingers entwined, both dressed in similar warm coats.
Leslie donned the same tartan-themed face mask he had worn to court.
It appears to be a new start for the presenter – who had thanked supporters after his legal victory last month.
The case at Southwark Crown Court saw Leslie accused of grabbing a woman’s breasts at the Soho Revue Bar, in London’s West End.
He vehemently denied the incident and told the jury he could not remember being at the party, and described the single allegation of sexual assault from December 5, 2008 as ‘crazy’ and ‘ludicrous’.
Kate posted pictures of herself posing up with Towie’s Mark Wright at an awards do
Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte was also snapped with Kate at the glittering ceremony
The travel fan , who is also interested in sport, posted a number of pictures online of herself
John Leslie was first pictured with Miss Moore in Wimbledon village holding hands at the weekend
One picture showed her quaffing champagne in a luxurious bubble-filled bath
This posting five days ago shows Leslie in the background, with his distinctive watch
Timeline: Damning claims that torpedoed Leslie’s career
2002 – Journalist Matthew Wright falsely accuses Leslie of raping Ulrika Jonsson;
2002 (December) – He is arrested on one count of rape and two concerning indecent assault, before being released on bail after an interview;
June 2003 – Charged with assaulting a woman twice between May 25 and 28 1997. These charges were dropped on July 31.
2004 – Photographs emerge of him taking cocaine, and a stolen sex tape of a threesome involving Leslie and his then girlfriend Abi Titmuss, a nurse who went on to become a glamour model, was leaked on the internet.
The woman said she came forward after being ‘inspired’ by the MeToo movement, but Leslie was cleared of sexual assault by a jury of nine men and three women after just 23 minutes deliberation.
The court had previously heard a woman claimed, out of nowhere, that the ‘over-excited’ presenter who ‘didn’t get out much’ grabbed her breasts and gave a ‘hearty laugh’ when she introduced himself to him.
Witnesses in the West End bar testified they were told about the alleged incident 12 years ago, but did not see it.
Famous faces Fern Britton, Anthea Turner, Yvette Fielding and Diane-Louise Jordan, from his time presenting This Morning and Blue Peter, all gave character statements to support their friend, calling him a ‘gentleman’.
Turner posted a photo of her and Jordan with Leslie after they gave testimony at his trial, with a caption reading ‘not guilty!’
It is the second time he has successfully contested sexual assault charges at the same court building. However, the case will do little to rehabilitate his battered reputation, with his own lawyer branding him an ’embarrassment’.
Leslie’s career first took a downward spiral when he was falsely accused of raping Ulrika Jonsson by the TV presenter Matthew Wright. Wright later apologised, saying he had given his name in error.
Several other women have made claims of sexual misconduct against Leslie, and he was arrested in December 2002 on one count of rape and two concerning indecent assault.
John Leslie was found not guilty of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court in October
His friend Anthea Turner, who supported him in court, proudly put out a post celebrating
Leslie took thanked his followers and tell them he was putting his family back together
In June 2003, he was charged with assaulting a woman twice between May 25 and 28, 1997. The charges were dropped at Southwark Crown Court on July 31, 2003 after new information emerged about the alleged victim.
But he remained the subject of scandal, with photographs emerging of him taking cocaine, along with a video of a threesome involving Leslie and his then girlfriend Abi Titmuss, a nurse who went on to become a glamour model.
Judge Deborah Taylor, using Leslie’s legal name, said: ‘Mr Stott, you for the second time leave this court without a stain on your character and I hope it will be the last time you have to attend.’
Leslie said his life changed completely in 2002 when he was wrongly identified on live television as the unnamed alleged rapist in his former girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson’s autobiography.
Presenter Matthew Wright later apologised, saying he named him in error, the court was told.
Ms Jonsson had never made any complaint to police, the jury heard.
Leslie with Blue Peter co-hosts Caron Keating and Yvette Fielding in the Blue Peter Garden at Television Centre in 1989
Leslie showing off a Thunderbirds puppet on Blue Peter, where he was a popular presenter
Televison presenter John Leslie pictured with Yvette Fielding and Holly Johnson
Leslie, from Edinburgh, said there had never been any sexual assault allegations against him before his name was wrongly linked to the book, and described the fallout as ‘Armageddon’.
In her summing up last month, Judge Deborah Taylor said after Matthew Wright mistakenly named him on air as the man accused of raping Ulrika Jonsson, the Scot claimed he ‘became paranoid and would not go near women’.
A spokesman for Leslie declined to comment.
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