The debate over the media treatment of celebrities accused of sex crimes intensified last night when the television presenter John Leslie was cleared of indecent assault charges. It emerged in court that the alleged victim had gone to the press before contacting the police, although it was unclear whether this information led to the case being withdrawn. There were calls for anonymity in sex cases to be extended to the accused, after Mr Leslie walked free from Southwark crown court, London, “without a single stain on his character”.

Guardian