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John Leslie groped woman at party, sexual assault trial hears John Leslie groped woman at party, sexual assault trial hears
(about 4 hours later)
Former Blue Peter presenter in court over alleged attack in December 2008 Jury in trial of ex-Blue Peter presenter discharged and new one to be sworn in after juror unable to carry on
The former Blue Peter presenter John Leslie grabbed a woman’s breasts at a Christmas party before laughing and walking away, a court has heard at the opening of his trial on sexual assault charges.The former Blue Peter presenter John Leslie grabbed a woman’s breasts at a Christmas party before laughing and walking away, a court has heard at the opening of his trial on sexual assault charges.
A jury at Southwark crown court was told that the 55-year-old is accused of committing the offence more than a decade ago. Leslie has denied the allegation.A jury at Southwark crown court was told that the 55-year-old is accused of committing the offence more than a decade ago. Leslie has denied the allegation.
The prosecutor, Jocelyn Ledward, told the court on Monday that Leslie grabbed the complainant’s breasts “quite deliberately for a period of a few seconds” at the party on 5 December 2008.The prosecutor, Jocelyn Ledward, told the court on Monday that Leslie grabbed the complainant’s breasts “quite deliberately for a period of a few seconds” at the party on 5 December 2008.
“The woman was stunned but did not report it to the police. [Leslie] denies he did any such thing and if there was any physical contact between them, then it must have been an accident.”“The woman was stunned but did not report it to the police. [Leslie] denies he did any such thing and if there was any physical contact between them, then it must have been an accident.”
The woman had recognised the former television presenter at the bar and went over to him, the court heard. Ledward said he smiled at the complainant and she smiled back. “Without saying anything further, he grabbed both of her breasts with both of his hands and laughed as he did so.” This went on for about three seconds, Ledward told the court.The woman had recognised the former television presenter at the bar and went over to him, the court heard. Ledward said he smiled at the complainant and she smiled back. “Without saying anything further, he grabbed both of her breasts with both of his hands and laughed as he did so.” This went on for about three seconds, Ledward told the court.
“The prosecution say this was no accidental touching but a quite deliberate sexual assault. The defendant laughed again and then walked off as if what he had done was completely acceptable and was not something anyone was going to challenge him on.”“The prosecution say this was no accidental touching but a quite deliberate sexual assault. The defendant laughed again and then walked off as if what he had done was completely acceptable and was not something anyone was going to challenge him on.”
Leslie, whose full name is John Leslie Stott and who has an address in Edinburgh, stood quietly in the dock wearing a mid-grey suit as the jury was sworn in on Monday. Leslie, whose full name is John Leslie Stott and who has an address in Edinburgh, stood quietly in the dock wearing a mid-grey suit as the jury was sworn in on Monday. The trial opened in the morning but the jury was discharged in the afternoon, with the judge, Deborah Taylor, saying the case would start afresh on Tuesday.
She told the jury: “A juror is unable to carry on so what I am going to do is, since we are in the early stages [of this case], is to discharge this jury and swear in another.”
The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had not gone to the police at the time of the alleged offence because she “did not think her complaint would be taken seriously”, Ledward told the court.The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had not gone to the police at the time of the alleged offence because she “did not think her complaint would be taken seriously”, Ledward told the court.
She confided in a friend, who was “shocked”, the court heard. It was in late 2017 after the #MeToo campaign became prominent that the woman decided to make a complaint.She confided in a friend, who was “shocked”, the court heard. It was in late 2017 after the #MeToo campaign became prominent that the woman decided to make a complaint.
Ledward said: “She began to feel more angry about what had happened.” The jury was told that Leslie voluntarily attended a police interview in March 2018 at the end of which he said: “I have not attacked or assaulted anyone ever.”Ledward said: “She began to feel more angry about what had happened.” The jury was told that Leslie voluntarily attended a police interview in March 2018 at the end of which he said: “I have not attacked or assaulted anyone ever.”
He is known for appearing on Blue Peter between 1989 and 1994 and he also presented Wheel of Fortune and This Morning. His father, Les Stott, sat listening in the courtroom, where everyone involved in the hearing was socially distanced.He is known for appearing on Blue Peter between 1989 and 1994 and he also presented Wheel of Fortune and This Morning. His father, Les Stott, sat listening in the courtroom, where everyone involved in the hearing was socially distanced.
The trial continues.The trial continues.