John Leslie ‘groped woman as he was excited to be at celebrity party after years out of spotlight’

John Leslie today told jurors he was not an ‘aggressive sexual monster’ – and claimed he spent most of a party where he is alleged to have groped a woman instead talking to late Big Brother star Jade Goody.

Leslie, 55, who appeared at Southwark Crown Court under his birth name of John Stott, said that he had been made suicidal after the loss of his TV career and reports about him in the tabloids.

The trial was told earlier today that allegations the defendant grabbed a woman’s breasts at a bash in London’s West End in 2008 were not ‘entirely surprising’ because ‘if someone at a party squeezed your bottom, it is more than likely to be him’.

However, the former presenter, who denies the claims, said that during the Christmas party, he spent the majority of the time speaking to Ms Goody, three months before she died of cervical cancer.

Putting forward his denial to jurors, he said: ‘I never sexually assaulted anyone. It’s not in my nature.

‘I’m a people person. I like life. I enjoy every day and I wouldn’t do anything deliberately to hurt anyone.

‘I’ve never done that. I wouldn’t do that. I’ve been brought up correctly. My mum and dad raised me right. I’ve been surrounded by women from 16.

‘I’m a larger than life person. I’m quite gregarious and happy and if that’s been misinterpreted, then… I would never intentionally upset anyone. It’s not in my nature.

‘I’m tactile, yes, I hug people, but not sexually. I’ve been called a big kid sometimes. I’m not an aggressive sexual monster the tabloids made me out to be. I’m a million miles from that.’

Ex-Blue Peter presenter John Leslie, pictured arriving at Southwark Crown Court in London, groped a woman because he was ‘excited’ to be at a celebrity party after several years out of the spotlight, it was claimed today

Leslie had been asked questions about his time after being named by Matthew Wright as the rapist of Ulrika Jonsson, which he later said was a mistake and apologised for, and when he settled with News International after the phone hacking scandal.

He said: ‘I became reclusive and suicidal.

‘I lost everything after that. There was no public, I wouldn’t go anywhere.

‘Anytime I went out people knew who I was going. I lost my financial income, I lost the house I built, I lost my life.

‘I was going to take my life to stop this happening because I wanted to protect my parents.

‘I think they were suffering more than me. It was to stop what was going on.

‘I got to the point of the tree and the rope and the park, but I had a moment where I thought of the people running the Mirror, the Sun, the News of the World, they would win, they can’t have that.

‘I tried to turn myself around. I thought I’d get myself back on track and try and get my life back.

‘I started going out and started to be social again.

‘I had great friends and a lot of love, I wouldn’t be here today without that.

‘Every time I put my head above the parapet, they’d do some headline, it would bring all the past up again.

‘It was constant for years and years. I was paranoid.

‘When I did go out, I was just aware I would never go near women because of what had been said because people thought I was that type of character.’

Speaking about the night in December 2008, he said: ‘I don’t recall that particular party but I do remember talking to Jade Goody at length.

‘She was very ill. I know she was rather upset about how the tabloids had been treating her.

‘I think it was that year because I know she died not long after that.’

About the party, he said: ‘If I’d been going anywhere public, it would have been a quite a special night.

‘There would be lots of other celebrities there, other presenters.

‘I would’ve gone as it was a friendly crowd and I would’ve liked to have seen people I’d not seen in a long time.

John Leslie, pictured, today told jurors he was not an 'aggressive sexual monster' - and claimed he spent most of a party where he is alleged to have groped a woman instead talking to late Big Brother star Jade Goody

John Leslie, pictured, today told jurors he was not an ‘aggressive sexual monster’ – and claimed he spent most of a party where he is alleged to have groped a woman instead talking to late Big Brother star Jade Goody

‘I would’ve been paranoid when I walked in with how I would’ve been perceived, and been aware of what they thought when I walked in.’

He added: ‘I have no idea who [the alleged victim] is. There was no reason to speak to her or meet her.

‘The idea I would do that is just crazy, especially the way I was and everything had been going on.

‘I was paranoid. I was aware, conscious. To go up to a total stranger and just do that would be ludicrous and never would have happened. I can’t imagine why she thought it would’ve happened.

‘I would’ve said hello, but not touched her and walked off. It’s not me. It never would have happened.’

Earlier today, a partygoer said the allegations were not ‘entirely surprising’ because ‘if someone at a party squeezed your bottom, it is more than likely to be him’, a court was told today.

The acquaintance of the complainant, neither of whom can be named for legal reasons, said she felt ‘disappointed’ after the alleged victim came over and told her Leslie has touched her without consent. 

In a statement to police in 2018, she said: ‘I do not find it entirely surprising, because he can be a tactile person.

‘John Leslie was known to touch people inappropriately.

‘If someone at a party squeezed your bottom, it is more than likely to be John Leslie.’

She was then asked: ‘Are you saying John Leslie had squeezed your bottom?’

In reply, the woman said: ‘Yes, on occasion, he has.’

She added: ‘I did consider calling [Crown Prosecution Service] about it, but I think we should concentrate on [the alleged victim’s] case.’ 

Southwark Crown Court had been told this morning today how the star groped the alleged victim because he was ‘excited’ to be at a celebrity party after several years out of the spotlight.   

Another friend of the woman who says her breasts were grabbed by the 55-year-old said someone in the presenter’s circle ‘apologised’ on his behalf. 

The woman appeared via video link to give her evidence.

The university friend, who cannot be named in case it identifies the alleged victim, said she, her partner, the alleged victim, Leslie and his friend were all together in a circle when the disputed assault happened.

She said she saw Leslie, accompanied by a blonde woman, walk through the door that evening.

She said: ‘I was introduced to John and his friend there. I thought they were in front of me.

Leslie, who wore a black suit, blue shirt and navy spotted tie, denies sexual assault and was supported in court by his father, Les Stott, pictured together

Leslie, who wore a black suit, blue shirt and navy spotted tie, denies sexual assault and was supported in court by his father, Les Stott, pictured together 

‘It was a very good atmosphere. People were talking. It was very friendly, very nice.

‘It was during this interaction that something happened between John and [my friend].

‘I believe he did something to violate [my friend] in the bar.

‘I can’t be exactly sure what I saw but what I certainly heard was the aftermath of what happened and saw the shock and heard the shock from [my friend].

‘John’s demeanour didn’t change, he was still very excitable and very happy to be there. But there seemed to be a sudden shift in atmosphere from [my friend] and it was almost disbelief – an appalled feeling.’

She added: ‘There was a shock and a disbelief that was slightly measured and tempered but not long after that John and his friend left she said something like, ‘did you see that or can you believe that happened?”

The witness continued: ‘I’ve got a recollection of John’s companion approaching me towards the end of the evening, when we were in the bar area, and apologised on John’s behalf.

‘This is the gist rather than the exact words, but she said like, ‘sorry about John, he’s very excited to be here it’s been a long time since he’s been to a party like this and sometimes he just gets excited and goes over the top.’

‘I don’t think it went on for a long time. If I did respond, I placated her.. I said I’m sure it’s OK rather than challenging anything.’

Southwark Crown Court heard the alleged victim did not speak to the police in 2017 until she remembered that her friend was there.

She said: ‘There was a point when [my friend] was talking to me about reporting it to the police, and the police weren’t continuing their enquiries with it. I reminded her I was there that evening.

‘I think I had assumed that she had remembered that I had been there, but she must have forgotten.’  

Leslie, who wore a black suit, blue shirt and navy spotted tie, denies sexual assault. He was supported in court by his father, Les Stott.

The hearing continues.