John Leslie has said he has "been to hell and back"

He made the remarks during his first TV interview since two charges of sexual assault were dropped in July.

The press helped in "destroying my life", he told Channel 4's afternoon chat show Richard and Judy.

There's a lot of wind and noise and damage behind me - I just want to have family time John Leslie

The media had been "trying to make me out as some kind of monster", said Leslie.

"This was on a plate, this was fantastic" for journalists who wanted to see his downfall, he said.

He admitted being a "lad about town" in the past but denied ever acting inappropriately, saying: "I treat women with respect.

"I wouldn't have the friends I have and I wouldn't be comfortable being the type of person who routinely went around abusing women - and I wouldn't be able to do it with the media that we have in this country," he said.

Hate

Leslie was sacked as host of ITV1's This Morning last October when the allegations were made and his career has been on hold ever since.

The former Blue Peter host had faced charges of attacking the same woman twice between 25 and 28 May 1997.

The woman came forward to police after Leslie was sacked from his high-profile job following allegations in the press arising from TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson's autobiography - although she herself had not named him.

When asked whether he hated Jonsson, he replied: "Hate's a very strong word.

Regret

"I was very angry at the time. I'm more upset now because she stood by and let it all happen, and we pleaded with her to either come out and say it was me so I could defend myself or say it wasn't."

Taking cocaine - and being photographed doing so - was his biggest regret, he said, because of "the embarrassment and the shame it heaped on my family".

"It's the one thing that I admit to and I was so stupid," he said.

But he added: "It wasn't part of my life and since then it's stopped completely. But that was my biggest lesson and the most hurtful thing for me."

Healer

He said he had "no idea" whether he would get work on TV in the near future.

"That's up to the public and it's up to TV executives," he said. "At the moment, there's a lot of wind and noise and damage behind me - I just want to have family time.

"Time will tell - that's the best healer."