Links between Jeffrey Epstein and the great and good of the British establishment, are back under the spotlight as the disgraced billionaire faces a fresh raft of underage sex charges.

As part of the new case being brought against the Wall Street financier, investigators in the United States are understood to be once again examining his relationships with a string of high profile figures on both sides of the Atlantic, including his British former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell - daughter of the late media baron, Robert.

Epstein, 66, a close friend of Prince Andrew, was sentenced to 13 months in custody in 2008, after pleading guilty to procuring a 14-year-old girl for prostitution.

But the sentence - which was part of a controversial plea bargain - was condemned by many as too lenient and even potentially unlawful, and last week he was arrested again and charged with running a "vast network" of underage girls for sex.

The indictment alleges that Epstein enticed girls, some as young as 14, to his homes in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005, where they were paid to perform massages and sex acts on him.

It is also alleged he conspired with others "including employees and associates" to procure youngsters.