Former US president George HW Bush in new apology for ‘patting women’s rears’

George HW Bush has issued another apology following claims he groped two actresses, saying he touched them from behind in what was meant to be in "a good-natured manner".

Theatre star Jordana Grolnick has become the second woman in a day to accuse the former US president of inappropriate touching, claiming that she was groped at a production of the Hunchback of Notre Dame in August 2016.

It comes after Boardwalk Empire star Heather Lind said Mr Bush "touched me from behind from his wheelchair" and "told me a dirty joke" as they posed for a photograph in 2014.

Mr Bush, 93, apologised to Lind on Wednesday, and in a further statement his spokesman said that as the former president is confined to a wheelchair "his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures".

He added: "To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke – and on occasion, he has patted women’s rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner.

"Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate. To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologises most sincerely."

Grolnick said other actors had warned her about Mr Bush, but she dismissed the concerns.

"We all circled around him and Barbara for a photo, and I was right next to him," she told Deadspin.

"He reached his right hand around to my behind, and as we smiled for the photo he asked the group, ‘Do you want to know who my favourite magician is?’

"As I felt his hand dig into my flesh, he said: ‘David Cop-a-Feel!’"

Grolnick said those around her "laughed politely and out of discomfort", adding that Barbara Bush "said something along the lines of ‘He’s going to get himself put in jail!’"

The actress said she initially did not consider reporting the incident to authorities, but after Lind’s story emerged she came to realise "it wasn’t OK for him to do that to me".

Lind spoke out after a string of Hollywood stars came forward to accuse producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, harassment and rape.

The 34-year-old said she had been inspired by "the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences".

(c) Sky News 2017: Former US president George HW Bush in new apology for ‘patting women’s rears’