Leslie 'suicidal' over sex claims

Leslie is still the focus of media attention

Television presenter John Leslie has said he considered committing suicide after being accused of sexual assault.

He told the Daily Express that after losing his job on GMTV, he was portrayed in the media as a "vile monster" and contemplated taking his own life.

The former host of ITV's This Morning was cleared on Thursday of charges of attacking the same woman twice between 25 and 28 May 1997.

The prosecution dropped the case after receiving unspecified "new information" from the complainant, which made prosecution impossible.

The Scot told the paper his lowest point came in November as he walked on Sheen Common, near his home in south west London.

He was binge eating and had stopped playing sports and the piano.

He told the paper: "From successful TV celebrity, I had suddenly become portrayed as a vile monster and I could not defend myself.

"I thought the best thing to do would be to do away with myself."

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One of the things that stopped him from suicide was the love of his parents and girlfriend Abby Titmuss.

He told the Express: "In any great crisis or trauma, they say that you hit absolute rock bottom and then you have to look up.

"That was my lowest moment and thereafter I turned the corner."

But he said he now felt "ashamed" of wanting to kill himself.

Mr Leslie said: "I fear nothing now. The worst has happened."

The presenter's future career remains unclear, after Sky One denied reports it had offered Mr Leslie a return to the small screen.

It is believed he is considering legal action against media organisations he felt vilified him when the allegations emerged.

His acquittal has led to calls for a change in the law to preserve the anonymity of the accused.