New York, Apr 16 : Rob Lowe's former nanny has claimed that the actor sexually abused her for years but she continued to work for him and his wife because she needed the job and hoped the abuse would stop.

Jennifer Gibson, the nanny, made the revelation on NBC's "Today" saying that the former "West Wing" star often stuck his hand down her pants and propositioned her during her seven years caring for his two sons.

She said she never went to police because she needed the job and hoped the abuse would stop.

"You know, I loved the children, I needed the job. I always thought it would get better. I was scared," the New York Daily News quoted Gibson, as saying.

Meanwhile, Lowe's current and former employees have come to the actor's defense against nanny's sexual harassment claims.

Lowe's estate manager, Carol Andrade, defended the actor in a written declaration provided to Lowe's legal, saying: "Jessica never told me ... that Rob ever said or did anything that she found inappropriate or offensive or that made her feel uncomfortable ... or made sexual advances toward her."

Andrade said she has supervised the nannies, chefs, drivers and housekeepers for Lowe, 44, and his wife, Sheryl, 46, for the last year and a half.

ANI