Bill Cosby settles civil action

Bill Cosby has privately settled a civil case launched by a woman who accused him of drugging and molesting her in 2004.

Cosby, who always maintained his innocence, was never prosecuted due to a lack of evidence regarding the alleged incident at his home in Philadelphia. Details of the settlement with Andrea Constand were not disclosed, but Cosby's spokesperson confirmed that the pair "have resolved their differences and therefore the litigation has been dismissed".

69-year-old Cosby is best known for his paternal role in the sitcom The Cosby Show, which was screened between 1984 and 1992. Prior to acting, he was a stand-up comic and is widely regarded as one of the first black comedians to break into mainstream culture in America.