Copperfield sued over 'assault'

David Copperfield is known for his spectacular stunts

Magician David Copperfield is being sued by a Seattle woman who claims he sexually assaulted and threatened her on his private island in the Bahamas.

But his lawyers have dismissed her claims as an attempt at "extortion for money, plain and simple".

No criminal charges have been brought over the alleged incident.

The woman is a 22-year-old model who says she met Mr Copperfield at a performance in Kennewick in January 2007, the Seattle Times reported.

She was then reportedly invited to the island that summer where she alleges she was sexually assaulted.

She filed her claims against Mr Copperfield - real name David Seth Kotkin - in court on 29 July, the deadline for a two-year statute of limitations, the paper added.

Copperfield, 52, is known for elaborate stunts such as apparently walking through the Great Wall of China and making the Statue of Liberty disappear.