Harvey Weinstein granted $1 million bail and ordered to wear tag 24/7 after being charged with rape in New York

Harvey Weinstein has been granted bail at one million dollars and been ordered to wear a tag 24 hours a day after being charged with a string of sexual offences.

The Hollywood producer appeared stunned as he appeared in court charged with rape and several other counts of sexual abuse, involving two separate women, in New York on Friday.

Dressed in a white shirt, blue jumper and black blazer, Weinstein stood silent as his lawyer agreed he would pay for his own monitoring device and not travel beyond New York and Connecticut.

He also agreed to pay the $1 million cash bail and surrender his passport.

Manhattan Assistant Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said in court: "This defendant used his position, money and power to lure young women into situations where he was able to violate them sexually." Weinstein raised his eyebrows as he heard it.

His defence lawyer said Weinstein intended to plead not guilty to the charges.

Earlier on Friday, he surrendered to authorities at a New York City police station on sex crime charges, months after the allegations first surfaced.

Announcing the charges in a statement, the New York Police Department said: "Today, at the NYPD's 1st Precinct, Harvey Weinstein was arrested, processed and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women.

"The NYPD thanks these brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice."

The, once incredibly powerful, Hollywood mogul has been accused by scores of women of misconduct but this is the first time he has been charged.

Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex.

Upon arriving at the Manhattan police station, the 66-year-old stepped out a black SUV and walked slowly inside.

He did not answer respond to shouts of his name but, at one point, smiled.

He was carrying books under his arm, including Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution - about musical theatre duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

Two police officials spoke anonymously to AP news agency and said the case includes allegations made about an incident that took place in 2004.

The woman, Lucia Evans, was among the first to speak out about the film producer. An official says the charges are likely to include one other victim who has not spoken publicly.

Evans confirmed to The New Yorker that she was pressing charges, saying that it was about "the greater good of humanity, of womankind".

Lawyers for the film producer have said all allegations that he forced himself on women were "entirely without merit."

But more than 70 women have accused the co-founder of the Miramax film studio and Weinstein Co of sexual misconduct, including rape, with some allegations dating back decades.

The accusations, first reported by the New York Times and the New Yorker last year, gave rise to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, government and entertainment of misconduct.

The charges follow a months-long investigation that involved the Manhattan district attorney's office.