Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of rape & attempted rape at Chester Crown Court

Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of rape and attempted rape by a jury at Chester Crown Court.

The former Manchester City defender was cleared unanimously of one count of rape in October 2020, and one count of attempted rape in October 2018.

At his original trial, which ended in January, Mendy was cleared of a further eight charges.

The 28-year-old World Cup winner is no longer a Man City player. His contract ran out this summer.

When he joined City in 2017 his £56m transfer fee was, at the time, the most ever paid for a Premier League defender.

The police investigation began almost two and a half years ago.

The ex-Manchester City footballer, 28, was accused of carrying out sex attacks on two women at his £4million mansion.

He was cleared after three hours of deliberation by the jury at Chester Crown Court this afternoon – and broke down in the dock afterwards.

Mendy, 28, had faced a retrial on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape during lockdown-busting parties. He is now a free man but without a club after his Man City contract expired at the end of June.

The French international full back was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a court case in January.

Mendy wept when he was cleared. His lawyers said he would now ‘rebuild his life’ – and a likely return to top flight football.

Jenny Wiltshire, Head of Serious & General Crime at Hickman & Rose said: ‘Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focussing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumour and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset.

‘This is the second time that Mr Mendy has been tried and found not guilty by a jury. He is delighted that both juries reached the correct verdicts.

‘It has been almost 3 years since the police started investigating this matter. Mr Mendy has tried to remain strong but the process has, inevitably had a serious impact on him.

‘He thanks everyone who has supported him throughout this ordeal and now asks for privacy so he can begin rebuilding his life.’