BRITAIN/JOHN LESLIE: The following is an edited version of the statement which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) gave as an explanation to Leslie and the public for dropping the case against him.
The CPS lawyer told the court of the original allegation against Leslie and then further claims from other women.
Of those who came forward, a number went directly to the press rather than to the police. Some who did make allegations to the police were not willing to give evidence.
The accounts of those who were prepared to give evidence against Mr Leslie were then subjected to careful scrutiny in the course of an extensive police investigation. In due course, a report was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.
In considering whether or not to bring charges against the defendant, the CPS had to consider whether, in respect of each allegation made, there was a realistic prospect of the defendant being convicted.
In so deciding, the CPS had inevitably to take account of: the fact that the incidents had taken place several years earlier; the fact that the complainant had not come forward at the time; and a host of other factors that arose in respect of specific allegations.
During this process of review, the solicitors then acting for the defendant submitted a large amount of material relating to the media coverage that the allegations had attracted.
This all had to be considered.
The lawyer then referred to new information.
Since the defendant last appeared at court, new information has been brought to the attention of the police. The source of the information is the complainant herself: that is very much to her credit.Our duties to the complainant mean that this material cannot be disclosed.
It has, nevertheless, led the Crown Prosecution Service, quite properly, to carry out a further review of the decision to prosecute. It is no longer felt that there is a realistic prospect of conviction in this case. - (PA)