Epstein accuser takes legal action against Prince Andrew over alleged assault when she was 17

Andrew is named as the only defendant in the 15-page suit, brought under New York state’s Child Victims Act

Britain's Prince Andrew (Chris Jackson/PA)

Jeffrey Epstein-accuser Virginia Giuffre has started legal action against Britain's Prince Andrew and said it was “past the time for him to be held to account” for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.

Lawyers for Ms Giuffre filed the civil suit seeking unspecified damages at a federal court in New York, where the court documents claim she was “lent out for sexual purposes” by convicted sex offender Epstein including while she was still a minor under US law.