TV presenter John Leslie was dramatically cleared today of sex assault charges after his alleged victim approached police with "new information".

The announcement at a packed court hearing brought to an end a 10-month nightmare for the star.

The former host of ITV's This Morning programme could not hide his relief as the Crown formally offered no evidence on two charges that he attacked a young actress.

Finally exonerated after repeatedly protesting his innocence, he smiled and briefly clasped the hand of his girlfriend Abby Titmuss, who was sitting next to him in the well of Court No.1 at London's Southwark Crown Court.

The judge told him that he would leave the room "without a stain on his character".

Outside court, his voice breaking with emotion, Leslie told reporters he had been to "hell and back".

"Hello again. What can I say. I am an innocent man. I've maintained my innocence throughout and today it has been justified," he said.

"For the last 10 months my family and I have been taken to hell and back and we always believed that justice would prevail and the truth would out.

"I have said that I would clear my name in the due legal process in a court of law and today I have."