A WOMAN accusing rapper Nelly of sexual assault following a Southend concert has slammed Essex Police for the length of time taken to investigate.

The woman accuses Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes Jr, of assaulting her in a dressing room at The Cliffs Pavillion in Southend in December 2017.

Nelly has not been criminally charged and has denied the allegations.

The woman alleges that she paid to have her photo taken with the 44-year-old rapper after the concert before he took her to a separate room and sexually assaulted her.

But a lawyer believed to be representing the victim, has written to Essex Police listing a series of complaints about the investigation.

According to US website TMZ, the woman was upset that police asked to view her phone records and emails.

The complainant, who suggests she may stop cooperating with police due to her disappointment at the handling of the case, also claims police came to her house 'unsolicited'.

Essex Police confirmed it had received communication from a solicitor and will engage with both parties, stating the investigation is ongoing - which saw a man voluntary interviewed in relation to the case.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Our enquiries are ongoing after reports of a sexual assault in Station Road, Westcliff, on December 5, 2017.

"A 44-year-old man was interviewed voluntarily in connection with this incident.

"We can confirm we have received communication from a solicitor regarding the case and will be reviewing this investigation and engaging with both parties in due course."

In January, Nelly asked a US court to dismiss the woman's lawsuit that alleges he sexually assaulted her in Southend.

The federal lawsuit was filed in November last year in the rapper's hometown, St Louis.

Nelly’s lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, filed a response to the lawsuit, arguing that the woman should not be allowed to remain anonymous and “avoid public scrutiny”.

The lawsuit is the second such case filed against the rapper.

In September, Nelly settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged he raped her on his tour bus in suburban Seattle.