A friend of John Leslie apologised over his behaviour after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at a Christmas party, a court has heard.
The companion, who had attended the gathering in London’s West End more than a decade ago, said the former Blue Peter presenter sometimes got “over-excited” and that it had been a long time since he had been at a party like that, his trial was told.
Leslie is accused of making a “solid grab” of both of the complainant’s breasts at the party in December 2008.
On the second day of his trial at Southwark Crown Court, a friend of the complainant who also attended the party said she did not recall seeing the alleged incident, but described what she remembered of “the aftermath”.
READ MORE: Former Blue Peter presenter John Leslie 'laughed' after groping woman, court hears
She told the court: “I can’t be exactly sure what I saw.
“What I certainly heard was the aftermath of what happened and saw the shock and heard the shock from (the complainant).
“John’s demeanour did not change. He was still very excitable and very happy to be there, but there seemed to be a sudden shift of atmosphere from (the complainant). And there was almost disbelief and sort of a galled feeling.”
The witness added: “Not long after, she (the complainant) said something along the lines of: ‘Did you see that?’ or: ‘Can you believe that happened?’ or something like that.”
The witness said a woman who attended the party with John, who she believed might have been an old friend, had later approached her towards the end of the evening and apologised for his behaviour.
The witness told the jury: “The gist was: ‘Sorry about John, he’s very excited to be here, it’s been a long time since he has been to a party like this and sometimes he just gets over-excited and goes over the top.”
READ MORE: Woman ‘shocked’ after ex-TV host John Leslie grabbed her breasts, court told
The witness said she thinks her response was to placate the companion “in an ‘I’m sure it’s OK’ kind of way, rather than challenging” her.
The complainant alleges Leslie grabbed her breasts and laughed immediately after they shook hands, before walking away without saying anything – and has described to the jury how she was left feeling shocked.
The court has heard how Leslie – who had also hosted This Morning – had a “spectacular fall from grace” and by 2008 was known as a “disgraced former celebrity” after a series of “scurrilous allegations” against him.
The jury has heard how separate sex charges against him were dropped in 2003.
Leslie, 55, who has an address in Edinburgh, denies sexual assault by intentionally touching the woman without her consent on December 5 2008.
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