A lawyer acting for actor Sylvester Stallone has dismissed sexual assault charges filed against the actor as fictional.

Marty Singer said the lawsuit was filed to back up a tabloid newspaper story.

Margie Carr, who is reported to be an "exotic dancer", said that Stallone physically and sexually assaulted her in a gym in a Los Angeles suburb on 28 February last year.

Mr Singer said the charges were "purely fictional and totally without merit". He added: "It's very upsetting to him.''

Marry

He said Ms Carr had sold her story to the American Globe tabloid in January, before filing the lawsuit on 26 February.

"She wanted to marry my client and wanted him to leave his wife," Mr Singer added.

Ms Carr told the Globe tabloid that she had had a 10-year secret affair with the actor and had had sex at the gym.

The star of Rocky and the Rambo trilogy has been married to Jennifer Flavin for almost four years. They have two daughters.

"The problem is that, in America, anybody can sue anyone on claims, whether false or not," Mr Singer said.

He added: "Our belief is that she filed this lawsuit to sell another story to the tabloid.

Ms Carr is seeking unspecified damages.