David Walliams accused of grooming teens in UK reports

British comedian and children's author David Walliams has been accused in UK media reports of grooming teenagers as young as 15 for sex and sexually harassing female colleagues.

The Guardian and ITV published the allegations on Tuesday after a joint investigation involving claims by multiple women dating as far back as 2003.

Walliams denied targeting teenagers and using his fame to manipulate them into sex, his lawyers told media. In a letter published by The Guardian, Walliams said he had "behaved thoughtlessly" in casual relationships but added: "I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law."

One woman, identified as Jade, said Walliams contacted her in 2007 through a social media page showing she was 15. She alleged that he invited her to his house and sexually assaulted and groomed her. Walliams' lawyers denied he had sexual contact with her and said he never engaged in grooming young women.

Another woman, identified as Alex, told The Guardian she first met Walliams when she was 15 and an aspiring comedy writer. She said they later had consensual sex when she was 17 and he was 34, but alleged that he used his power and had groomed her. Walliams' lawyers said he believed she was 18 and that she had contacted him again.

Walliams, now 55, starred in "Little Britain", was a judge on "Britain's Got Talent" and wrote children's books including "Mr Stink", "Gangsta Granny" and "The Boy in the Dress". His publisher HarperCollins dropped him last year after accusations that he harassed female staff, which he denied.

Walliams had sought to block publication of the reports. His legal team argued in the High Court that he was "highly likely" to die by suicide if they were published, and the court heard he had made two suicide attempts this year and was detained in a secure hospital last month.