Benjamin Mendy: Second man arrested in footballer rape inquiry

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A second man has been arrested in connection with sexual offences in Cheshire following Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy’s investigation, Cheshire police said.

The force said on Saturday that a 40-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of rape earlier this week and released on bail.

In a statement, Cheshire Constabulary said: “We can confirm that we have arrested a second man, age 40, in connection to an ongoing investigation into sexual offences at an address in Cheshire.

Mendy was charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Three of the alleged rape attacks are said to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021, with the sexual assault of a woman in early January this year.

He is also charged with raping a woman earlier this month.

The alleged offences relate to three different women including one under 18.

Mendy was remanded into custody at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool until his next court appearance at Chester Crown Court on September 10.

The left-back has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported £52 million.

He was suspended by the club after being charged by police, pending an investigation.