Benjamin Mendy rape trial delayed as Man City defender made to wait

Benjamin Mendy's trial has been pushed back by more than two weeks.

The Manchester City defender, 27, stands accused of eight counts of rape, one account of sexual assault and one attempted rape. His trial was scheduled to begin on July 25 at Chester Crown Court but it has now been pushed back to August 10, court sources have confirmed.

It is due to last more than three months with up to eight alleged victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, expected to give evidence. Mendy has pleaded not guilty to all but one rape charge, for which he has not yet entered a plea after it was added to the trial last month.

All offences are alleged to have taken place at his home address in Cheshire and span between October 2018 and August last year.

Co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40 and from Eccles, has also entered not guilty pleas to eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault, relating to eight alleged victims.

As part of the conditions for his bail, Mendy has had to forfeit his passport and reside at his home in Cheshire. He has also been told not to contact any complainants, who must not be identified in media reports.

He joined Manchester City from Monaco in 2017 in a deal worth more than £50m. The 10-times France international has made more than 70 appearances for City and has won three Premier League medals.

He last played for the club in August of last year and has been suspended since being charged.