A man who initially recanted sex abuse allegations against the former puppeteer of the Sesame Street character Elmo has sued him, alleging the entertainer lured him into drug-fuelled sex when he was 16.

A man has sued a former Sesame Street puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, saying the actor met him a dozen years ago after trawling gay telephone chat lines for underage boys for sex.

A man has sued a former Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, saying the voice actor met him in New York a dozen years ago after trolling gay telephone chat lines seeking underage boys for sex.