A former US police officer who fled to Russia and claims to have hundreds of hours of video from Jeffrey Epstein’s properties has said that the FBI may be helping to cover up Prince Andrew’s alleged role in the sexual abuse scandal.

MI6 sources fear that John Mark Dougan, a former US Marine and Florida deputy sheriff, may have passed compromising information about the prince to Russian authorities.

Mr Dougan, 42, told The Times last night that he had not been approached by Russian officials and it was “ridiculous” to suggest that he would hand over information. “I’m certain the FBI is involved in some kind of cover-up over Epstein,” he said. “That could absolutely include Andrew’s role, or it could be that senior