Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of six counts of rape

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault.

The Frenchman has been on trial at Chester Crown Court since August after 13 women made allegations against him and co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, but the 28-year-old has been found not guilty on seven of the nine charges put to him.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on a further two charges against him, while Matturie was found not guilty on three charges. Jurors failed to reach a verdict on a further six charges against him.

“Manchester City FC notes the verdict from Chester Crown Court today, where a jury has found Benjamin Mendy not guilty of seven charges. The jury is hung on two charges and the trial is now over,” a club statement read.

“Given there are open matters related to this case, the Club is not in a position to comment further at this time.”

Mendy will face a retrial in June over the two charges of alleged rape and attempted rape that the jury were not able to decide on.