Benjamin Mendy: footballer remanded in custody on rape charges

The Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with four counts of rape and a sexual assault.

The French international defender is accused of offences against a 17-year-old girl and two other complainants, a court heard on Friday.

One of the alleged rapes is said to have taken place at Mendy’s home in Cheshire this week, Chester magistrates court was told.

The three other counts of rape date back to October 2020, and the sexual assault is alleged to have taken place in January this year.

Mendy, who had been expected to feature in Manchester City’s squad to face Arsenal on Saturday until he was charged, will spend at least the bank holiday weekend in custody after a judge refused his application for bail.

He is next due in court on 10 September, and he could be in custody at least until then unless his legal team appeals against the bail refusal. Any appeal would not be heard before early next week.

Mendy, wearing a red designer hoodie and black Adidas jogging trousers, stood expressionless with his arms folded as the charges were put to him by the court clerk via a French interpreter.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said Mendy was released under investigation on 11 November last year after being arrested on suspicion of rape. In January, he was further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, the court was told.

Byrne said one of Mendy’s bail conditions was that he should not have house parties. She said police were called to a party attended by up to 21 people at Mendy’s home in the Cheshire village of Mottram St Andrew this week. He was then arrested over a further allegation of rape and for allegedly breaching his bail conditions, the court heard.

Byrne said Mendy had shown an an unwillingness to comply with his bail conditions, and he should be remanded in custody to prevent him from carrying out further offences.

She said: “The defendant has shown total disregard and, the crown will say, an arrogance in ignoring the bail conditions and continuing to conduct his social life as he chooses.”

source: theguardian.com