Benjamin Mendy freed on bail following seven rape allegations
The Manchester City player has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault
Last updated 7th Jan 2022
Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy, accused of a series of serious sex offences against young women, has been freed on bail by Judge Patrick Thompson at a hearing at Chester Crown Court today (January 7th).
Mendy had been due to go on trial this month, but the trial has now been put back to June at the earliest.
He has been bailed until January 24, until a further pre-trial hearing.
The full bail conditions were not given in open court, but Mendy was told he must live at his home address, not to contact complainants and surrender his passport by midnight on Friday.
Mendy, wearing a black suit and white shirt, replied, "OK" to the judge.
What is Mendy going on trial for?
Mendy, of Prestbury, Cheshire, stands accused of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against five different women.
The rape charges relate to four different women and the sexual assault charge to a fifth.
All of the incidents are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.
The French international has been in custody for 134 days, since first being arrested and charged on August 26 last year.
The footballer's lawyer has denied the charges on Mendy's behalf.
His co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie, of Eccles, Greater Manchester, is also accused of six counts of rape in and one of sexual assault.
During today's hearing, Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, told the court that on Thursday further charges of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault were authorised for Matturie.
He will appear in court next week on the additional charges.
A decision on the application for bail by Matturie has yet to be made.
None of the women involved, as complainants of alleged sex offences, can be identified.
Today's hearing is listed as a preliminary hearing and an application for bail for both defendants.
When will Mendy's trial be?
Following today's pre-trial hearing, Mendy's plea will be entered on January 24, with the actual trial set to take place starting on either June 27 or August 1.
Who is Benjamin Mendy?
The left-back has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported ÂŁ52 million.
Mendy began his career at Le Havre, before moving on to Marseille in 2013 and then Monaco in 2016.
During his career, the Frenchman made 10 appearances for his national side.
In August 2021, Benjamin Mendy was charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Following this charge, the Frenchman was suspended from the Manchester City team.
In November 2021, Mendy was charged with a further additional counts of rape.
In December of last year, Mendy was charged another rape offence relating to a new complainant.