John Leslie, the former Blue Peter presenter who was acquitted of indecent assault in 2003, was arrested last night over an allegation of rape.

The 43-year-old attended a London police station by appointment with officers investigating the accusation, which dates back to 1995.

Previously he had been named, apparently mistakenly, on television as the alleged rapist of Ulrika Johnson. Following a police investigation Mr Leslie was charged with two counts of indecent assault on a different female,a 23-year-old actress. But in August 2003 Crown prosecutors dropped the case.

Mr Leslie said outside the court that he had always maintained that he was an innocent man.

Last night a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “We are investigating an allegation of rape and indecent assault on a woman.

“The allegation dates from November 1995. At approximately 7pm this evening a man aged in his 40s attended a London police station by appointment and was arrested in connection with the inquiry.

“He was interviewed and has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in August.”

The woman at the centre of the new allegation claims that Mr Leslie forced himself on her after inviting her and group of friends back to his house, it was reported last night.

The woman, who says that she was in her early 20s when the alleged assault took place, reported the claim to police several weeks ago.

A source close to Mr Leslie was quoted as saying that the former presenter totally denies the accusation and was “devastated.”

The Edinburgh-born Scot now lives in his home city and has pursued a career as a property developer.

Speaking on the steps of Southwark Crown Court in July 2003 after the dropping of the charges of indecent assault he said that he and his family “had been to hell and back”.

He added: "I am an innocent man. I have maintained my innocence throughout and today it's been justified."

Inside the court, the prosecution had said no further action would be taken against him and offered no evidence, adding that it had “come into possession of further material that has led to the charges against the defendant being reviewed”.

At the time of his first arrest, his career in television had apparently been going from strength to strength.

After presenting Blue Peter, he joined This Morning in 1999 and took over as a full-time host with Fern Britton in 2001.

Following the acquittal, This Morning said it would not reinstate Mr Leslie and, although he was linked to other television projects, he chose to concentrate on personal business interests instead.

In a telephone poll of more than 23,000 people shortly after the acquittal, 92 per cent of callers said they wanted to see him back on television.

A year later, a video of the celebrity involved in a sex session with his then girlfriend, Abi Titmiss, was stolen and later emerged on the internet.

Speaking in 2006, he conceded that his behaviour with women at times had been “inappropriate”.

He said that his “worst year” was after being cleared and revealed that he had considered suicide.

However, by the time of the interview he said had recovered and was feeling “better than ever,” adding: “My family, my health, my friends, and my wellbeing are what's important. The only thing I've lost is a job.”

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