Prince Andrew 'the victim of a fishing expedition'

Lawyers acting for Britain's Prince Andrew have accused a US woman of embarking on a "speculative fishing expedition" in attempting to ensnare him in an under-age sex scandal.

The prince has been named in court papers lodged in the US over allegations that he sexually abused a 17-year-old girl, supplied to him by his friend Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced investment tycoon and convicted sex offender.

The papers, lodged by the alleged victim's legal team, go on to accuse the prince of lobbying US authorities to ensure Epstein was given a "more favourable plea" bargain following sex abuse allegations against him. In 2008, Epstein was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to one charge of soliciting prostitution. Several other charges were dropped.

The alleged victim's lawyers are now seeking "documents regarding Epstein's lobbying efforts to persuade the government to give him a more favourable plea arrangement and/or non-prosecution agreement, including efforts on his behalf by Prince Andrew".

It is understood the prince's lawyers view the claim of lobbying as "a speculative fishing expedition". They believe that the woman's lawyers do not have proof of lobbying by the prince, but want to see if paperwork that supports such a claim actually exists.

Buckingham Palace on Friday "categorically" denied the allegations made by the woman - known as Jane Doe 3 in the court documents - that he had abused her.

Attempts to shore up the prince's reputation were helped by an interview given by Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard law professor who represented Epstein. Dershowitz has also been accused by Jane Doe 3 of having "sexual relations" with her "on numerous occasions while she was a minor".

On Saturday, Dershowitz told BBC Radio's Today programme : "My only feeling is if she's lied about me, which I know to an absolute certainty she has, she should not be believed about anyone else.

"We know she's lied about other public figures, including a former prime minister, and others who she claims to have participated in sexual activities with, so I think it must be presumed all her allegations against Prince Andrew were false as well."

Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of the late media baron Robert Maxwell, yesterday denied allegations that she had acted as a "madame for Epstein" and "facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse". Her spokesman said: "The allegations made against Ghislaine Maxwell are untrue."

The alleged victim told The Guardian newspaper, "These aggressive attacks on me are exactly the reason why sexual abuse victims typically remain silent. I'm not going to be bullied back into silence."