Singer Dawn Richard was “absolutely terrified” of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, lawyer claims

She has claimed that Combs threatened her life and subjected her to "years of inhumane working conditions"

Dawn Richard, who sang with two groups formed by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, was “absolutely terrified” of the rapper, her lawyer has claimed.

She was a member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money, and sued Combs in September, claiming that he threatened her life and “subjected her to years of inhumane working conditions”.

Richard’s attorney Lisa Bloom told the BBC that Combs groped, assaulted and falsely imprisoned her, and claimed “that he not only failed to pay her money that was promised to her, but actually prevented her from eating and sleeping during those years – just treated her terribly”.

Combs denies the charges and his lawyer has described Richard’s claims as “manufactured” and “false”.

Combs, who rose to prominence in the ’90s after founding Bad Boy Records and signing the Notorious B.I.G., is the subject of over two dozen lawsuits, and he is also battling a criminal prosecution. He has been held in a federal jail in Brooklyn since his arrest on September 16.

He was denied bail after offering a $50million (£38.4m) bond, and was reportedly placed on suicide watch, while he has since appealed against the bail denial. He pleaded not guilty to an indictment that saw him charged with racketeering and sex trafficking, and his trial in the federal criminal case is set to begin on May 5 next year.

Earlier this week, another wave of sexual misconduct lawsuits were filed against Combs, with three men and two women claiming they were drugged and sexually assaulted in New York and Miami, dating back to 2001.

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reported last week that, according to court filings the publication obtained, Combs has broken jail regulations by paying prison inmates to use their phone accounts, with prosecutors claiming they have the recordings of the various calls he has made.

His son King Combs announced earlier this month that he’d be controlling his father’s social media while in prison.

For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.