Roman Polanski loses his bid to return to the US after judge refuses to dismiss 1977 sexual assault case

Decision comes just days after a third woman came forward to say Polanski assaulted her

Roman Polanski has not visited the US since 1977 (GETTY)

Film director Roman Polanski will not be able to return to the US after a Los Angeles judge refused to dismiss a 1977 sexual assault.

Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon made his decision despite the appeals of victim, Samantha Geimer, to drop the case.

Judge Gordon said the court could not dismiss a case "merely because it would be in the victim's best interest".

He added: "The defendant in this matter stands as a fugitive and refuses to comply with court orders."

Ms Geimer was assaulted 40 years ago by the Oscar-winning film director, who fled the US to France after become convinced a plea-bargain would be scrapped.

She went to Los Angeles Superior Court in June pleading for his case to be resolved, saying she had forgiven Polanski years ago and wanted the case put to rest "as an act of mercy to myself and my family."

Judge Gordon also rejected a request by Polanski's attorney, Harland Braun, to unseal testimony about the 1977 plea deal.

Braun had hoped to use the testimony to persuade European authorities to rescind the international arrest warrant against Polanski

Polanski, 84, has not returned to the US since 1977 for fear of arrest.

Controversy has inevitably followed the Polanski, who directed 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'The Pianist', around for decades.

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Earlier this week, a third woman came forward to accuse him of sexually assaulting her in 1973.

The woman, identified as Robin, alleged she was "sexually victimised" by Polanski when she was 16-years-old.