Five more women have come forward to allege sex-related crimes against French film-maker Luc Besson, adding to the four already public.

After an investigation by French website Mediapart, a former assistant of Besson’s said she was coerced into a sexual relationship with the director, as well as being regularly sexually harassed by him. The assistant, who remains anonymous, claims she told colleagues at the time.

The other accusers include two students at Besson’s film school at the Cité du Cinéma studio, who have accused him of harassment. A former employee of Besson’s EuropaCorp alleged inappropriate behaviour.

In May, Besson was interviewed by police in connection with an accusation of rape by actor Sand Van Roy, while another Mediapart investigation in July claimed three women had accused him of various offences, including assault and sexual harassment.

Besson denies the allegation of rape, saying they were “fantasist accusations”. He has yet to respond to requests for comment on the new allegations.