Never, never have I abused a woman

Depardieu hits back after allegations of rape and sex assault

- MARK JEFFERIES and PETER ALLEN

FRENCH actor Gerard Depardieu has written an open letter in a newspaper to deny accusations of rape and sexual assault.

In the letter, published by Le Figaro, Depardieu, 74, said: "Never, never have I abused a woman.

"Hurting a woman would be like kicking my own mother's stomach.

His decision to make the public statement follows at least 13 women joining alleged rape victim Charlotte Arnould, 33, in accusing the actor of criminal behaviour.

A rape claim by actress Ms Arnould in 2018 is currently making its way through the courts.

Paris-based investigative news site Mediapart has published a dossier outlining allegations that Depardieu regularly preyed on victims during productions including Marseille, the Netflix crime drama.

Radio station France Inter reported two fresh accusations over the summer.

Depardieu - who starred in hits such as Green Card and The Last Metro -vehemently rejects all the claims, including that he raped Ms Arnould at his Paris mansion.