UK police investigating Kevin Spacey over sexual assault claim

The Metropolitan Police is investigating an allegation of sexual assault against actor Kevin Spacey, Sky News understands.

Police say they are investigating an allegation that a man assaulted another man in the London borough of Lambeth in 2008.

The incident was referred to Scotland Yard on Wednesday and is being looked into by officers from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command.

At the time of the alleged assault Spacey was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London, a role he held between 2003 and 2015.

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The police investigation follows a story in The Sun newspaper earlier this week in which a man, now aged 32, said that Spacey had abused him when he was 23.

"This investigation may be as a result of a complaint made by the man who was talking to The Sun newspaper," said Sky’s Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt.

"He claimed that he was with Kevin Spacey at his home in Lambeth, near the Old Vic theatre, that he’d fallen asleep and he woke up to find that Kevin Spacey was abusing him.

"That is the allegation that has been made."

Spacey has faced multiple accusations of sexual harassment or abuse over the last week, after actor Anthony Rapp said the star had made a sexual advance toward him in 1985.

At the time Rapp was just 14-years-old and Spacey was 26.

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In a statement, the House of Cards actor said that he did "not remember the encounter", but said that he was "beyond horrified to hear his story".

"If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology," he added.

On Thursday Spacey’s publicist said the actor was seeking "evaluation and treatment" following the allegations about his behaviour.

The actor has faced a public backlash since the claims about his behaviour have emerged, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Netflix said it had dumped the star and that it would not be involved in any further production of House of Cards.

The channel also said it would not be moving ahead with the release of the film Gore, which was produced by and starred Spacey and was in post-production.

On Friday a Dutch business forum cancelled a conference appearance by the actor in Rotterdam later this month.

BusinessBoostLive said "it is not desirable" for Spacey to speak at the event following the sexual assault allegations.

Spacey’s 2017 Emmy Founders Award has also been revoked following the allegations.

(c) Sky News 2017: UK police investigating Kevin Spacey over sexual assault claim