Ghislaine Maxwell waltzed into paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s life and ‘took over’, claims former butler

GHISLAINE Maxwell waltzed into billionaire Jeffrey Epstein’s life and “took over”, his former butler told her sex trafficking trial yesterday.

Juan Alessi, 71, said the British socialite announced that she was the “lady of the house”.

Maxwell was with the financier “95 per cent of the time”, the court heard.

Ecuadorian Mr Alessi — who looked after Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion for 12 years — was giving evidence in New York.

After pointing out Maxwell, 59, in the dock, he said: “From the day she came to the house she right away took over.

“She mentioned to me she was going to be the lady of the house.

"She also told me she was in charge of (Epstein’s) other properties. I was only supposed to speak to Mr Epstein when he asked a question.

“She said Jeffrey doesn’t like to be looked in the eyes. Look at another part of the room and answer.”

Maxwell faces six charges linked to Epstein’s child sex trafficking ring.

Mr Alessi said he worked at the mansion between 1990 and December 2002.

His role was to make it look like a “five-star hotel”.

Mr Alessi recalled he first met Maxwell in 1991.

After this, his relationship with Epstein became less “cordial”.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey asked Alessi about his understanding of the relationship between Maxwell and Epstein.

He replied Maxwell was the “girlfriend”.

In previous court papers arising from a civil lawsuit involving Maxwell, Mr Alessi claimed she “constantly” took pictures of “topless girls”.

He also said he found “vibrators or sex toys” while cleaning.

He has previously sworn on oath that he set up massage tables for Prince Andrew each day during an extended stay in the noughties.

Yesterday Mr Alessi said he saw “many females” at Epstein’s home and 75 to 80 per cent of the time they would be “topless”.

He also said Maxwell gave him a “degrading” 58-page book outlining his chores and that staff were told to “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing”.

Mr Alessi admitted driving two underage girls to the Palm Beach mansion, including accuser “Jane”.

He named the other as Virginia Giuffre and said Maxwell recruited her at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

The trial continues.