British actress accuses Roman Polanski of sexual abuse

Charlotte Lewis, now 42, alleges that Polanski sexually abused her in 1982 when she was just 16.In a press conference at the Los Angeles office of attorney Gloria Allred on Friday, Lewis, who appeared in Polanski's 1986 film 'Pirates', alleged that the director "forced himself" upon her in Paris when she was 16.

The actress said the incident occurred in a Paris apartment but she did not report it at the time. The legal age of consent in France is 15, according to French law, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The actress was a child star in Britain on the TV show 'Grange Hill' and also appeared in movies.The Los Angeles County district attorney's office confirmed Lewis met with prosecutors on Thursday but declined to comment further.

Polanski is wanted in the US so he can be sentenced for having unlawful sex with a minor in 1977. He fled America on the eve of his sentencing and has been living in exile in Europe ever since.

'The Rosemary's Baby' director is currently under house arrest at his chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, following his arrest in Zurich in September last year.Polanski's attorney released the following statement, saying, "We don't have any information about statements made at a Gloria Allred press conference today, but we do know that our district attorney continues to refuse to provide the Swiss government with accurate and complete information relevant to the extradition issue."

The latest development has brought trouble for the director as prosecutors could use Lewis' statement if Polanski comes to the US for the sentencing.The director had accused the US justice system of using him for "gaining some publicity" in his first ever interview since his arrest seven months ago.