BREAKING NEWS: Pippa Middleton's father-in-law, 73, is charged with rape of a minor in France - Daily Mail

The multi-millionaire father-in-law of Pippa Middleton was in custody in Paris tonight accused of raping a child.

David Matthews, 73, is alleged to have carried out the attack between 1998 and 1999, while on holiday in France.

A person is alleged to have reported him to the police, leading to Matthews reporting to judges in the French capital on Tuesday. Matthews denies the charges.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited David Matthews attends the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mary's Church in Berkshire, England, last year

Citing legal sources, French national news agency AFP said Matthews had now been charged with the ‘rape of a minor by a person with authority over his victim’.

Matthews is the father of James Matthews, 41, who is married to Pippa, the 34-year-old sister of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, who is married to Prince William.

The rape case is being dealt with by the Juvenile Protection Brigade (BPM) of the Paris judicial police.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited David Matthews, 73, is alleged to have carried out the attack between 1998 and 1999, while on holiday in France. Pictured right: Spencer Matthews

Matthews is a self-made multi-millionaire who grew up near Rotherham and started his professional career as garage mechanic, also working as a door-to-door salesman.

After several successful years in business, Matthews retired after the recession and ventured into hotels, snapping up the Eden Rock (pictured) in St Barts in 1995

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Matthews is a self-made multi-millionaire who grew up near Rotherham and started his professional career as garage mechanic

He moved into motor sport, and married Anita Taylor, a fellow driver. The couple had a daughter called Nina together but divorced in 1969. Matthews was forced to retire in 1973 due to major injuries.

Matthews then focused on transforming a used-car enterprise into the region's biggest dealerships: Kirkby Central Group, which was the subject of a £8.5 million takeover years later.

He then met his second wife, Rhodesian-born artist Jane Parker. They lived on a 30-acre, 18th-century estate in rural Lincolnshire, before moving to Paris, then Monaco.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited David Matthews, 73, pictured with his wife Jane, was in custody in Paris tonight accused of raping a child

He and Jane Parker had three sons, James, Spencer, and Michael, who tragically died when he was just 22 on an expedition up Mount Everest.

Spencer Matthews made his name as a lovable rogue on British reality TV show Made in Chelsea.

After several successful years in business, Matthews retired after the recession and ventured into hotels, snapping up the Eden Rock in St Barts in 1995, which he moved into and totally revamped along with Jane and Spencer.

The hotel - a hotspot for celebrities including Tom Hanks, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez - also became a holiday destination for Pippa and James.

But it was wrecked and strewn with rubble after a devastating encounter with Hurricane Irma last year.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited The Eden Rock hotel was wrecked and strewn with rubble after a devastating encounter with Hurricane Irma last year

Despite their rags to riches story, the family's life has been marred by tragedy. Their son Michael was just 22 when he tragically died after reaching base camp of Mount Everest.

Mike passed away following bad weather in Nepal when he was on his way back down the mountain, in 1999.