Chronicle Editor
MANCHESTER City’s Benjamin Mendy appeared in court charged with sex attacks on three women, including an alleged assault that was “just days ago”.
The left-back faces four counts of rape and one of sexual assault after being arrested at his £5 million home, police confirmed.
He was immediately suspended by the club pending an investigation.
Detectives said the charges relate to three complainants, all over the age of 16, and are alleged to have taken place between October last year and this month.
Mendy is charged with three counts of rape against a woman at his home address in October last year.
The French international was arrested last November at his £5 million home in Prestbury, Cheshire.
He was then released pending further investigation.
Mendy faces another rape charge from the last seven days when he was still on police bail.
The defender is also accused of sexually assaulting a female in January at his home.
He then faces a final charge of breaking bail conditions this week.
All the charges relate to three different women.
Mendy (27), who earns £90 000 a week, has been remanded in police custody and has appeared before Chester magistrates’ court today.
He arrived at court in a prison van with a police escort this morning.
The DAF van was escorted by a Peugeot 308 police car before driving into the court building through an open red shutter door, which was then closed behind it.
In a statement, the club said: “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.”
Cheshire Police said the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges to be brought.
Premier League champions Man City spent a reported £49.2 million signing Mendy from French side Monaco in 2017.
He last played for the club on August 15 during their 1-0 defeat to Tottenham at the start of the season.
But he was part of the squad that defeated Norwich 5-0 last weekend.
In September last year City boss Pep Guardiola revealed Mendy would be out of the game for at least a month due to an injury. – The Sun
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter