John Leslie arrested over rape allegations

British television presenter John Leslie was today arrested over allegations of rape and indecent assault.

The former This Morning presenter was held this morning and was being questioned by detectives at a police station in London.

Leslie, 37, attended the police station by arrangement and with his solicitor.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “A man has been arrested and is being interviewed in connection with allegations of rape and indecent assault.”

Three woman have made allegations to police about 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.

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.

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

Following his sacking by Granada, the company which produces This Morning, his manager John Noel said: “It should be apparent in the light of the allegations made against John Leslie that it is inappropriate for John to discuss those allegations with any party before first speaking to the police.

“John Leslie has contacted the police of his own initiative and openly offered any assistance that he can give the police.

It added: “John Leslie is committed to dealing with this matter through the proper channels and not a trial by media.”

Leslie, a former boyfriend of actress Catherine Zeta Jones, was believed to earn a six-figure sum for his role on This Morning.

He took over as one of the main presenters on the daytime show after the departure of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan when they jumped ship to Channel 4 last year.