By Samuel A. Date July 16, 2023
Ex Manchester City defender, Benjamin Mendy thanked the jury for ignoring what he termed “rumors” as he was cleared of 10 sexual harassment and assault charges, including two serious cases – raping a woman and trying to rape another. The Frenchman broke down in tears as the judge delivered the verdict at Chester Crown Court on Friday.
It is the second time in about a year that he has had to defend himself in court against rape allegations. He was previously cleared of a number of sexual offences following a six month trial that ended sometime in January. In the latest trial which began three weeks ago, he was accused of raping a 24 year old woman in a bedroom at his mansion in October 2020. He was also charged with the attempted rape of a 29 year old woman at his rural Cheshire home two years earlier and faced a lengthy jail sentence if convicted.
The 28 year old, whose contract with Manchester City expired late last month, wept as the not guilty verdicts were given by the jury foreman. Following the verdict, his lawyers read out a statement on his behalf: “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.”
Earlier this year, the left back, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. However. he wasn’t released then as jurors were unable to reach a verdict on two further charges and a retrial was ordered.
Woman A, an unidentified 29 year old student, first met Mendy while in a nightclub in Barcelona in late 2017 and she became intimate with one of his friends. They kept in touch and a year later she arranged to visit the friend at Mendy’s house, where they stayed after they all went with other girls for a night out. The morning after, when she took a shower, Mendy appeared uninvited, she told the court. Mendy was then alleged to have grabbed the woman and tried to rape her on the bed as she tried to struggle free, despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. Mendy told the jury the two were “flirting” during the night out and the next morning he went to her room and they began hugging on a bed.
Two years later, woman B, also unspecified, aged 24, was out with friends at a bar in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, near Mendy’s home, when they were invited back to the footballer’s home. She alleged Mendy took her telephone from her, which contained her “intimate” photos, then led her to his locked bedroom, as she asked for her telephone back. Mendy was alleged to have told her “I just wanna have a look at you” and told her to take her clothes off. He was then accused of taking hold of her from behind and raping her. The woman said afterwards that the footballer said to her: “You’re too shy. It’s fine. I’ve had sex with 10,000 women”. He told the jury the woman had agreed to “play around” on the bed and denied raping her, saying afterwards they swapped details to connect on Snapchat.
After the trial lawyers for Mendy said he was “delighted” with the outcome of the trial but said the process had a “serious impact”. They added: “He thanks everyone who has supported him throughout this ordeal and now asks for privacy so he can begin rebuilding his life.”
