John Leslie, the former Blue Peter presenter acquitted of indecent assault in 2003, will not face police action over fresh allegations of rape.

The Metropolitan Police said today they would take no further action following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

The latest claim against Leslie came after a party at his home in Sheen, West London. A woman in her early 20s is reported to have said she was attacked at the party.

Leslie attended Teddington Police station last month when the allegation surfaced. The next day he released a statement in which he condemned “lies about my private life” and said: “I certainly did not attack this person as I have never attacked anyone.”

Leslie’s law firm released a statement on his behalf today, saying that he was “delighted” with the result and denouncing the complaint as “ridiculous”. It also said there was “little justice and no fairness” in what Leslie and his family had been put through, having his name dragged through the mud once again.

Leslie was acquitted of two counts of indecent assault on a 23-year-old actress in 2003. She came forward to police in 2002 when Leslie was sacked from This Morning after allegations made in TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson’s autobiography - although she had not named him.

In recent years, Leslie has pursued a career away from show business as a property developer in Scotland.

Leslie said at the time of the latest allegation: “I was interviewed for 30 minutes and released on bail. Five years ago I helped the police complete a thorough investigation into malicious claims against me.

“Regrettably, as has happened in the past, the details of a private police inquiry have been leaked to the press and once again I face trial by media.

“It is thus with a mixture of anger and distress that I am forced to talk yet again about lies about my private life, lies that destroyed my public career.”

Leslie added: “If I sound bitter, it is because I am.”

He said the lies “that destroyed my public career in 2003... now threaten the private life which I have been happy to lead since then…When, I ask, is this nightmare going to end?”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Swine flu vaccine for all as drug rushed through
• Artificial sperm and the race to build a baby
• BBC jets out stars to tout for prizes