The former Welsh secretary Mr Ron Davies, who resigned after being robbed at knifepoint earlier this week in London, attacked media allegations yesterday, insisting there was no sex or drugs angle to the story.
"It was a moment of madness for which I have subsequently paid a very, very heavy price," Mr Davies told the BBC. "I am deeply, deeply sorry."
Mr Davies resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday, saying he had embarrassed the British government by becoming the innocent victim of a crime when he was robbed by a man he met on a late-night walk in a park near his London home known as a haunt of homosexuals.
His car, wallet and mobile telephone were stolen after he agreed to go for a meal with the man and two of his friends. That was the moment of madness, he said.
An unemployed man was charged yesterday with robbing Mr Davies. Four others are out on bail.
"For several frightening minutes I was held up at the side of a street in London, with a knife at my throat," Mr Davies said.
He vehemently denied press allegations he had been cruising Clapham Common for either homosexual sex or drugs. "I have been pilloried and subjected by the press to a whole series of allegations, most of which are entirely without foundation."
However, Mr Davies stopped short of denying he was gay despite being pressed by the interviewer. "I'm not going to get involved in a discussion about my own private life," he said. "I have a very longstanding, a very deep, a very loving relationship with my wife, who has been enormously supportive over the last few days."
On Thursday, Mr Davies also abandoned any hopes of standing for election to lead a new parliamentary assembly in Wales. Critics said he could not stand in the principality especially as the circumstances of Monday night's incident remained unclear.
Mr Davies was the first minister to resign under a cloud from Mr Tony Blair's cabinet in the 18 months since Labour won its landslide election victory.
Mr Blair called yesterday for Mr Davies to be allowed privacy to rebuild his life.