Benjamin Mendy charged with fresh count of rape as trial date changes from January

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been accused of another count of rape.

The 27-year-old, who was already facing six allegations, was charged with the fresh offence last week.

The charge relates to a new complainant and is alleged to have taken place in July this year.

Details of the new allegation had been subject to reporting restrictions but a judge lifted the order on Wednesday as Mr Mendy appeared at Chester Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing.

The French international footballer is now accused of eight sex offences against five different women, including seven counts of rape relating to four women.

He is accused of three counts of rape that allegedly took place on 11 October 2020; one count of sexual touching on 2 January 2021; one count of rape on 24 July 2021 and two counts of rape on 23 August 2021.

Mr Mendy is appearing alongside his co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, who is also accused of serious sex offences against young women.

Both men were remanded into custody at HMP Altcourse, Liverpool after a 40-minute hearing where their trial, scheduled for January, was put back to later in the year.

A new schedule has been set with a trial set to take place on either June 27 or August 1 of next year.

Mendy has been suspended by Premier League giants Manchester City, with the club releasing a statement in August which read: “Manchester City can confirm that following his being charged by police today, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation.

“The matter is subject to a legal process and the Club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete.”