Sexual assault charges against TV presenter Mr John Leslie were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service when he appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court today.
Mr Leslie, who has always maintained his innocence, was accused of attacking the same woman twice between May 25th and May 28th, 1997.
But the charges were dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to offer any evidence against him.
Leslie made an emotional speech outside court after being cleared of sex charges.
He said: "I am an innocent man. I have maintained my innocence throughout and today it has been justified."
Close to tears, he said: "In the last ten months my family and I have been taken to hell and back, although we always believed that justice would prevail and the truth be out.
"I have said that I would clear my name in the due legal process in a court of law and today I have.
"I would not be here today if it was not for my mum and dad, my family, my girlfriend and my friends, who to a man stood by me, and the general public for their letters, for their cards and their kind words.
"Finally for my team of John, James, Paul and Jason for believing in me 110%. You've no idea what this has done, what today means. Thank you. I have nothing more to say," he said.
Asked if he would get his presenting job back, he said: "Who knows, you tell me."
The prosecution offered no evidence against Leslie, saying it had "come into possession of further material that has led to the charges against the defendant being reviewed".
The CPS lawyer added: "The prosecution gladly acknowledges that he will leave this court without a stain on his character from this investigation. PA