Former Manchester City star Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty at Chester Crown Court of one count rape and one of attempted rape.
The 28-year-old was accused of attacking a 24-year-old woman at his £4m mansion in Cheshire in October 2020.
He was also accused of the attempted rape of another woman, aged 29, who said he had also molested her at his home two years before.
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• Benjamin Mendy Has Been Charged With Four Counts Of Rape
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.
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.’
