Lady Victoria Hervey says she was used as ‘bait’ by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in new d

British socialite Lady Victoria Hervey has alleged that she was used as “bait” by the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as Ghislaine Maxwell went “fishing” for young girls on his behalf.

The aristocrat, 44, is the daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol and a former friend of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted last month of sex trafficking on behalf of Epstein.

In a new ITV documentary airing on Tuesday evening, she likened Epstein and Maxwell to “Batman and Robin”, adding: “They were a double act. I don’t think Jeffrey could have done any of it without Ghislaine.”

She told Ranvir Singh, presenter of Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile: “I think he just kind of sat back and sort of waited for her to sort of go fishing and go find however many girls were needed to entertain his friends. I think I was pretty much used as bait.

“You know, looking back at, you know I was really young and naive, and she’s entertaining these big businessmen. I didn’t realise it of course at the time, but looking back…”

In an interview with Lorraine ahead of the documentary, Lady Victoria said that Maxwell was a “victim who became the accomplice” and “changed sides” as her relationship with Epstein evolved.

She said: “It was a lot easier for her to approach other women, being a female, girls would feel less intimidated and scared, rather than a man, where it would have been a lot more obvious in that respect.”

Asked if she felt “used” by Epstein and Maxwell, the socialite added: “I had fun, I guess, at the time, and I was so naive. People in my situation at the time, we were really young – of course we were going to get taken advantage of. I was definitely one of the luckier ones, and I’m aware of that.

“Besides the situation of having a feeling that there were video cameras in the apartment… it was just dinner parties and social gatherings, and it all just seemed very fun at the time.

“This is in the early 2000s, when no one had any idea of what people found out later on. People wanted Ghislaine and Jeffrey at all their events.”

Of Maxwell’s conviction, she added: “She hasn’t really named any new names yet. I’m hoping that for a lesser jail sentence she will start giving out some names, but I don’t think we’re there yet, especially with the jury situation, I don’t think this is over.”

Maxwell’s lawyers are seeking a mistrial following her guilty verdict after one of the jurors revealed in media interviews that they were a victim of child sexual abuse and had discussed their experiences in the jury room.