Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of raping a woman and attempting to rape another. The 28-year-old France international broke down in tears as the verdicts were read out at Chester Crown Court following a three-week trial.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for about three hours and 15 minutes before reaching their conclusion. Judge Steven Everett said: 'Mr Mendy can be discharged from the dock.'
Mendy was accused of attacking a 24-year-old woman at his £4m mansion in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, in October 2020, and of attempting to rape another woman, aged 29, who said he had molested her at his home two years earlier. The footballer, whose contract with Manchester City expired this month, was cleared of six rapes at an earlier trial in January.
Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC claimed Mendy had enjoyed parties at his home and on two occasions 'took advantage' of female guests, while his wealth and celebrity status turned him into a man not used to being told 'no'. However, Mendy told the jury that interactions with the women were consensual and that they had been flirting.
After the hearing, Mendy's solicitor Jenny Wiltshire 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.'
Ms Wiltshire added that Mendy had 'tried to remain strong' but the process had 'inevitably had a serious impact on him'. He now wants to rebuild his life and has asked for privacy.
