Kiss rocker Gene Simmons 'sexually assaulted make-up artist'

Kiss rocker Gene Simmons was facing new legal action today, hours after prosecutors said they would not charge him over an alleged attack on a couple at an upmarket outdoor mall.

A separate civil lawsuit claims the 60-year-old musician sexually assaulted a make-up artist.

The lawsuit alleging sexual assault and battery, was filed in Los Angeles by Victoria Jackson. She is seeking unspecified damages.

Fresh lawsuit: Gene Simmons

In court documents, Ms Jackson claimed she was working for ESPN Sports Centre on November 24 last year when she met Simmons wearing his Kiss costume.

She claimed Simmons said "in a lecherous and inappropriate manner, 'I like you'."

Ms Jackson claimed Simmons then shook her hand, grabbed and hugged her, with his costume's spiked chest plate jabbing her in the face.

After she resisted his embrace, she said Simmons started grinding into her, then finally released her.

Ms Jackson described the alleged incident as "degrading, shocking and humiliating".

The latest lawsuit comes after the Los Angeles district attorney's office said in documents yesterday that there was not enough evidence to show Simmons threatened Nathan Marlowe and his wife Cynthia Manzo at The Grove mall in Los Angeles last December.

Mr Marlowe had said the musician choked the couple and took their video camera after they started filming the star, while Simmons said Mr Marlowe shoved the camera in his face and he feared for his family's safety.

A civil lawsuit filed in December by Marlowe and Manzo against Simmons is still pending, in which the couple are seeking more than £17,200 in damages for claims of assault, battery and emotional distress, including damage to their sex life.