Benjamin Mendy weeps as he is found not guilty of raping woman in retrial

The former Manchester City star, who was recently released by the Citizens, was found not guilty of the charges by a jury at Chester Crown Court.

It comes as the 28-year-old was cleared of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault in his original trial at the start of the year.

Jurors at the time could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape.

But they have since cleared his name at his retrial after around three hours of deliberation.

Mendy was accused of raping a 24-year-old woman at his £4million Cheshire mansion in October, 2020.

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And he was also accused of the attempted rape of a different woman at his house two years earlier.

However the not guilty verdicts were read out by the jury foreman following a three-week trial, with Mendy subsequently breaking down in tears.

Mendy's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire, head of serious and general crime at Hickman & Rose, gave a statement on behalf of her client, who is now aiming to 'rebuild his life'.

She said: "Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focusing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumour and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset.

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"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 three 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."

Mendy had faced a potential life sentence if he was found guilty of the allegations.

But the 2018 World Cup winner, who told jurors he had slept with more than 10,000 women, is now free to move on with his life.