Bond star denies assault claims

George Lazenby played Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Former James Bond star George Lazenby has denied allegations he assaulted his first wife and was an abusive alcoholic during their marriage.

The claims were made in court papers filed in Los Angeles.

Mr Lazenby is fighting for custody of his three children with his second wife, former tennis star Pamela Shriver, who has filed for divorce.

Christina Master, from whom he split in 1994, and their 34-year-old daughter, alleged he beat and threatened them.

The claims, which Mr Lazenby has denied, is the latest step in the divorce between the 68-year old actor, and five-times Wimbledon doubles champion Ms Shriver.

Medical report

Ms Shriver, 46, filed for divorce from Mr Lazenby, citing "irreconcilable differences".

The pair, who live in Brentwood, California, got married in 2002 and have three children together.

Ms Shriver is seeking custody of four-year old George Junior and twins Kate and Sam, aged two, with supervised visits for Mr Lazenby.

Mr Lazenby played Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He said in a statement: "I wish Christina would show me a medical report, X-rays and pictures that show I broke her nose.

"I never punched her in my life."

He apologised to his daughter, Melanie Lazenby, for not being attentive to her during his son Zack's illness but denied the allegation that he was drinking at the time.

Zack died of cancer in 1994, aged 19.

Mr Lazenby claimed Ms Shriver had sought out Christina and Melanie in Paris during the French Open in May 2008 as she was "secretly preparing" to divorce him.