Leslie accuser 'is a tragic recluse' after alleged rape

A woman who has accused former Blue Peter star John Leslie of raping her 13 years ago is now a jobless recluse whose life fell apart after the alleged attack, a friend claimed today.

The 33-year-old woman told police that Leslie raped her at a party at his East Sheen home in 1995 - a claim he vigorously denied after voluntarily attending a police station to answer questions yesterday.

It is the second time the presenter, now a successful property developer, has been accused of sexual assault.

A friend of the alleged victim told The Sun: "In 1995 she was a stunning girl - blonde, slim, a proper head turner. She was just 20 and studying at university. She was really bookish and into her course, she had the world at her feet."

He added that the woman had been excited about going to the alleged John Leslie party. " She had a steady boyfriend at the time and he just thought it would be a pretty rubbish TV event full of luvvies," he said.

He said her drinking "spiralled out of control" after that night. "They split up and she lost custody of her kid because of alcoholism. Two years ago she moved back in with her parents. She doesn't work and is a virtual recluse," he said.

Leslie, 43, said he was the victim of "the mother of all stitch-ups" in a statement denying the allegations.