John Leslie is spotted holding hands with a mystery woman in Wimbledon weeks after being cleared of sex assault at celebrity Christmas party in 2008

Former Blue Peter presenter John Leslie has been spotted hand in hand with a mystery woman weeks after being cleared of a sex assault. 

The television star, 55, had wept after being found not guilty of groping a woman at a Christmas party 12 years ago.

Yesterday he was seen in Wimbledon looking happy and relaxed with the brunette as they strolled through the village part of the town.

Pictures showed the pair with their fingers entwined, both dressed in similar warm coats.

Leslie even showed his pride over his Scottish roots with the same tartan themed coronavirus protecting face mask he had worn to court.

It looked like a new start for the embattled presenter - who had thanked supporters after his legal victory last month.

He is understood to have been still living in Scotland near his parents, so it is believed his female companion lives in the Wimbledon area.

Leslie has been working as a property developer and a part-time DJ for the past decade.

John Leslie pictured with a mystery woman in Wimbledon village yesterday holding hands

The pair both looked relaxed as they strolled through the famous area over the weekend

Both had warm coats on and Leslie had a tartan themed face mask ready for indoor use

The pair also donned sunglasses to protect their eyes from the uncharacteristic bright weather

The Southwark Crown Court case saw him accused of grabbing a woman's breasts at the Soho Revue Bar, in Greek Street in London's West End but said the incident never happened.

The woman said she came forward after being 'inspired' by the MeToo movement, but Leslie was cleared of sexual assault by a jury of nine men and three women after just 23 minutes deliberation.

He had been defended by former Blue Peter colleagues including Anthea Turner and Diane-Louise Jordan. Turner today posted a photo of her and Jordan with Leslie after they gave testimony at his trial, with a caption reading 'not guilty!'

It is the second time he has successfully contested sexual assault charges at the same court building. However, the case will do little to rehabilitate his battered reputation, with his own lawyer branding him an 'embarrassment'.

Leslie's career first took a downward spiral when he was falsely accused of raping Ulrika Jonsson by the TV presenter Matthew Wright. Wright later apologised, saying he had given his name in error.

Several other women have made claims of sexual misconduct against Leslie, and he was arrested in December 2002 on one count of rape and two concerning indecent assault.

John Leslie was found not guilty of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court in October

His friend Anthea Turner, who supported him in court, proudly put out a post celebrating

Leslie took thanked his followers and tell them he was putting his family back together

Timeline: Damning claims that torpedoed Leslie's career  

2002 - Journalist Matthew Wright falsely accuses Leslie of raping Ulrika Jonsson;

2002 - He is arrested on one count of rape and two concerning indecent assault, before being released on bail after an interview;

June 2003 - Charged with assaulting a woman twice between May 25 and 28 1997. These charges were dropped on July 31. 

2004 - Photographs emerge of him taking cocaine, and a stolen sex tape of a threesome involving Leslie and his then girlfriend Abi Titmuss, a nurse who went on to become a glamour model, was leaked on the internet. 

In June 2003, he was charged with assaulting a woman twice between May 25 and 28, 1997. The charges were dropped at Southwark Crown Court on July 31, 2003 after new information emerged about the alleged victim.

But he remained the subject of scandal, with photographs emerging of him taking cocaine, along with a video of a threesome involving Leslie and his then girlfriend Abi Titmuss, a nurse who went on to become a glamour model.

Judge Deborah Taylor, using Leslie's legal name, said today: 'Mr Stott, you for the second time leave this court without a stain on your character and I hope it will be the last time you have to attend.'

After today's not guilty verdict, an emotional Leslie banged his forehead on the glass of the dock before putting his hand over his face and weeping.

His father, Les, stood up, punched the air and fell down crying with his head in his hands. When his son looked to the public gallery through tears of his own, Les shook both fists at him in triumph.

The court had previously heard a woman claimed, out of nowhere, that the 'over-excited' presenter who 'didn't get out much' grabbed her breasts and gave a 'hearty laugh' when she introduced himself to him.

Witnesses in the West End bar testified they were told about the alleged incident 12 years ago, but did not see it. 

Leslie with Blue Peter co-hosts Caron Keating and Yvette Fielding in the Blue Peter Garden at Television Centre in 1989

Leslie showing off a Thunderbirds puppet on Blue Peter, where he was a popular presenter

Televison presenter John Leslie pictured with Yvette Fielding and Holly Johnson

The Scot had told the jury he could not remember being at the party, and described the single allegation of sexual assault from December 5, 2008 as 'crazy' and 'ludicrous'.

Giving evidence, he said: 'I would not have touched her like some mannequin and walked off.'

He told the jury he had previously been made out to be an 'aggressive, sexual monster' by the tabloid press, as he denied ever assaulting any woman, saying it is 'not in my nature'.

 Leslie said his life changed completely in 2002 when he was wrongly identified on live television as the unnamed alleged rapist in his former girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson's autobiography. 

Presenter Matthew Wright later apologised, saying he named him in error, the court was told.

Ms Jonsson has never made any complaint to police, the jury heard.

Leslie, from Edinburgh, said there had never been any sexual assault allegations against him before his name was wrongly linked to the book, and described the fallout as 'Armageddon'.

Famous faces Fern Britton, Anthea Turner, Yvette Fielding and Diane-Louise Jordan, from his time presenting This Morning and Blue Peter, all gave character statements to support their friend, calling him a 'gentleman'.

In her summing up Judge Deborah Taylor had warned the jury not to 'speculate' about previous allegations against Leslie.

The judge said: 'You've heard about a case in 2003 which was discontinued.

'An allegation about Ulrika Jonsson and a police investigation into a further allegation which was discontinued in 2008.

'It's important you don't speculate about past history, make any assumptions or come to any conclusions about it, you must concentrate on this charge.

'It's for you to consider the evidence for a whole to decide whether she's been consistent and whether her evidence is true.'

The judge said they should not assume the woman is lying just because it took years to come forward with the allegation. 'You mustn't believe that because the complaint was delayed it is untrue.

'This was suggested to her in evidence. She didn't believe she would be taken seriously by the police at the time. It was only when the MeToo movement started she felt she could report it and be taken seriously.'

The judge mentioned the supportive testimony Leslie received from high-profile friends including Anthea Turner and Fern Britton.

She said after Matthew Wright mistakenly named him on air as the man accused of raping Ulrika Jonsson, the Scot claimed he 'became paranoid and would not go near women'.