Ghislaine Maxwell sexually abused underage girls and joined Jeffrey Epstein in directing Virginia Roberts Giuffre to be sexually abused by others, Giuffre claimed in a cache of documents that has been unsealed in the US.

She "trained me as a sex slave", Giuffre is quoted as saying.

The documents were part of now-settled civil litigation against the British socialite and include claims about her alleged involvement in the sex-trafficking scheme of Epstein, her longtime confidant and a convicted sex offender.

The documents stem from a 2015 civil action brought against Maxwell by Giuffre, who has claimed Maxwell lured her into Epstein's orbit as a teenager under the guise of offering work as a masseuse.

She said the couple subsequently pressured her into having sex with numerous rich or notable men, including Prince Andrew, US politicians, wealthy entrepreneurs, a famous scientist, and a fashion designer.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre (centre) holds a press conference in August 2019. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP

Maxwell and all of the accused men have long denied those allegations.

The files include personal emails between Epstein and Maxwell, as well as information from a discussion between Giuffre and her lawyer.