Pedophile Roman Polanski hit by fresh sex allegations

Fugitive film-maker Roman Polanski was hit by fresh allegations of sexual misconduct here Friday by a woman who claims the director "forced himself" upon her just after her 16th birthday in 1982.

Polanski, who is fighting extradition to the United States to face sentencing in his 1978 child sex case, was accused by British actress Charlotte Lewis of sexually abusing her at his apartment in Paris nearly 30 years ago.

In a press conference at the Beverly Hills offices of prominent attorney Gloria Allred, Lewis, 42, said she was speaking out to refute suggestions from Polanski's legal team that his earlier case was an isolated incident.

"I am also a victim of Roman Polanski. He sexually abused me in the worst possible way when I was just 16-years-old, four years after he fled the United States to avoid sentencing for his crimes," Lewis said in a prepared statement.

Allred said Lewis had given statements to Los Angeles police and prosecutors about the incident which she hoped would be taken into consideration if Polanski was extradited back to the United States for sentencing.

"It is very important that the District Attorney and the Swiss authorities are armed with this information as they decide Mr Polanski's fate," said Lewis, who had a minor role in Polanski's 1986 period flop "Pirates."

"Mr Polanski knew I was only 16 years old when he met me and forced himself upon me in his apartment in Paris. He took advantage of me and I have lived with the effects of his behavior ever since it occurred.

"All I want is justice."

No further information about the circumstances of the incident were revealed and Lewis took no questions. Lawyers for Polanski were not immediately available for comment.

Although Polanski was accused of "forcing himself" upon Lewis, the actress pointedly did not use the word "rape."

"The words we used are the words we used," Allred said when asked about the actress's allegations.

Allred, whose clients have included two of golfer Tiger Woods's alleged mistresses and the family of OJ Simpson's murdered ex-wife, denied Lewis's credibility would be diminished by her decision to only come forward now.

"I think what is important is she came forward now," Allred said. "Not only is it not too late, there's still time if the other victims want to come forward."

Polanski is currently under house arrest in Switzerland where he is fighting extradition in his 1978 case.

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