Popular football player charged with rape and s3xual assault

The 27-year-old Frenchman, who was initially charged on August 26, now faces seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault relating to five women.

Reporting restrictions have been lifted after Mendy appeared at Chester Crown Court for a hearing prior to his trial, which was put back after initially being scheduled for January.

The charges brought against Mendy relate to incidents that are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.

He was denied bail for a second time at the start of October and remains in custody.