Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy arrives at court

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy today arrived at court ahead of a pre-trial hearing over a string of sex crime allegations.

The 27-year-old Premier League star, who lives in Prestbury, Cheshire, is accused of nine charges, including seven counts of rape, involving six alleged victims.

He will stand trial from July 25 along with his co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, who faces similar allegations. Both of them were seen arriving at Chester Crown Court this morning.

Mendy's alleged offences include seven counts of rape relating to four women, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape.

Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, is accused of 10 offences involving seven women, including seven counts of rape relating to five women and three of sexual assault.

All the charges relate to a period of time between late 2020 and August 2021, with both men arrested on August 26 last year. None of the women can be legally identified.

Last Tuesday, Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester, presided over a separate pre-trial hearing dealing with administrative and evidential matters which cannot be reported ahead of the trial.

Mendy has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported £52million. He was suspended by the club after being charged by police.