Police release Leslie after questioning

TV presenter John Leslie was released from Belgravia Police Station in London last night after being questioned for several hours over allegations of rape and indecent assault.

The former This Morning star left the station in a black BMW with darkened windows.

Mr Leslie, 37, had attended the police station by arrangement with his solicitor and was arrested, police said.

Three woman have made allegations to police about Mr Leslie one of rape and two of indecent assault.

One woman alleges she was raped in south west London in 1998.

Another claims she was indecently assaulted by the star in the same part of London in 1997.

A third woman claims she was indecently assaulted by him in London last year.

A statement issued by Leslie's solicitors said the presenter learned details of the allegations against him for the first time yesterday.

It said: "We can confirm that Mr Leslie attended voluntarily today at a London police station and for the first time, after some weeks of media speculation, was provided with details of certain allegations which have been made.

"He strenuously denies all these allegations and intends to continue to do so, but he will assist the police with their inquiries.

"At this time, Mr Leslie has not been charged with any criminal offence."

Mr Leslie contacted police voluntarily in October to offer any assistance about the allegations made against him.

He was sacked as the presenter of ITV1's This Morning programme following the claims about his private life.

His sacking followed allegations in the press arising from Ulrika Jonsson's autobiography although she herself had not named him.

He has so far maintained a public silence about the affair.

Station Commander Inspector Tom Ross told reporters outside Belgravia police station: "He has been released but I cannot make any further comment about the investigation or how long he was here."

Scotland Yard police later confirmed Leslie has been bailed to return to a police station in January.

Mr Leslie who started his high-profile television career with Blue Peter co-presented This Morning with Fern Britton after replacing Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan in 2001.

He had first been subject to the full, tabloid glare when he was dating actress Catherine Zeta Jones in the early 1990s.