Leslie was accused of touching the woman's bottom as they danced at her hen night at the Atik nightclub in Edinburgh
FORMER TV presenter John Leslie said he has been through a "year of hell" after being cleared of sexual assault following claims he inappropriately touched a woman in a nightclub.
The ex-Blue Peter host was accused of putting his hand down the back of her trousers and touching her bottom as they danced on her hen night at Atik nightclub in Edinburgh last June.
Appearing under his real name, John Stott, the 53-year-old denied the accusations and was found not guilty this afternoon at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and told he was free to leave.
While giving evidence during the two-day trial, Leslie 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."
Speaking outside the court after the verdict, he 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.
"CCTV and DNA prove that no assault took place. It's now time to move on from this year of hell.
"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 emphatically: "It doesn't leave any doubt, he is innocent, absolutely, positively innocent."
Sheriff Adrian Cottam said he found it a "difficult decision" as the evidence from the bride 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.
During his evidence Leslie said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, asked him to dance and he did so in a "proper and very respectful manner" and once the dance ended she continued to dance with her friends "as if nothing had happened".
He said when police told him of the allegation of sexual assault he replied "that's just not happened" and told them to check the CCTV.
Club DJ Nicholas Mowat, 50, who has been friends with Leslie since high school, said he saw the former This Morning host dancing ballroom-style with the bride-to-be, who cannot be named for legal reasons, from his DJ booth that night.
Giving evidence, Mr Mowat said: "John was just pirouetting... John had his hands on the back of the bride and he was a perfect gentleman, dancing around the dancefloor as normal.
"I didn't see any signs of her being distressed with him or being anxious to get away from him in any way."
He said he had a good view of the dance floor from his elevated DJ booth and when the song ended Leslie kissed the woman on cheek and walked off.
Mr Mowat added: "I wasn't 100% on them but I would have noticed if there was some problem or if I needed to call a door steward over which I never saw at at all."
Following the allegations, Leslie 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."
On the first day of the trial his alleged victim gave evidence and said Leslie put his hand down the back of her trousers and touched her bottom.
She cried in court and said she had nothing to gain by making the allegation up.
She said it had affected relationships with her friends and husband and that it had been "one of the toughest years of my life when it should have been the happiest".
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