My ordeal escaping sex pest Benny Hill, by punk star Hazel

COMEDY star Benny Hill was accused yesterday of trying to sexually assault ex-punk singer Hazel O’Connor in an audition at his flat.

Ms O’Connor, now 62, claimed the bawdy comic demanded “sexual favours” in return for letting her join his TV dance troupe.

She said she had to push Hill away when he pounced on her as she tried to leave.

Miss O’Connor, who went on to have several 1980s chart hits as a singer and starred in cult movie Breaking Glass, said: “It still blows my mind and makes me very cross.

“I never told anyone about it. I remember the fear I felt – that I was going to be killed – and the fear of getting pregnant.”

She said Hill, who died 25 years ago aged 68, invited her to his London home in 1976, when she was 21, and alleged that the dancers “looked after him”.

Miss O’Connor added: “Eventually he said to me, ‘I need to know will you look after me too?’.

“I was disgusted and was getting ready to leave when he tried to snog me. I pushed him away and got out of there.”

Her claims surfaced in the wake of multiple rape and sexual assault allegations against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Yesterday film director Michael Winner was accused by Coronation Street’s Debbie Arnold of luring young actresses into a sex trap.

Miss Arnold, 62, who has also appeared in EastEnders, claimed Winner, who died four years ago, aged 77, asked her to expose and fondle her breasts during an audition.

Her allegations were supported by Crossroads actress Cindy Marshall-Day, who said the Death Wish blockbuster series director demanded to see her topless.

Winner’s widow Geraldine claimed the stories were untrue.

Also yesterday, it was revealed that nearly 40 women have claimed that Hollywood director James Toback engaged in lewd behaviour during auditions. Toback, 72, denied all of the allegations.