Benjamin Mendy to attend further hearing ahead of sexual assault and rape trial

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been ordered to appear for a further court hearing in May ahead of his trial on sex charges, a judge has ordered.

The France international, 27, is accused of nine charges in all, including seven counts of rape involving six alleged victims.

On Friday Judge Steven Everett, Recorder of Chester, ordered a further two-day pre-trial hearing starting on May 23, which Mendy and his co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, must attend.

Both defendants, who are on bail, were excused attendance from Friday's hearing at Chester Crown Court.

The hearing, lasting an hour, dealt with administrative and evidence matters, which cannot be reported ahead of the jury trial.

Judge Everett confirmed the trial date for both men as July 25, with the trial expected to last up to six weeks.

Mendy, of Withinlee Road, Prestbury, Cheshire, is accused of nine offences relating to six alleged victims.

They include seven counts of rape relating to four women, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape.

Mendy's co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie, 40, of Eccles, Salford, is accused of 10 offences, involving seven women, including seven counts of rape relating to five women and three of sexual assault.

All the charges span a period of time between late 2020 and August 2021 and both accused were first arrested on August 26 last year.

Mendy appeared for a brief hearing in February, where the judge Mr Justice Thompson set the trial date. Mendy is yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Then, Judge Thompson urged lawyers to ensure there is no delay.

He said: "It's not fair on the complainants and not fair on the defendants. I'm conscious of the fact that the complainants have already suffered significant delay.

"Say, for example, Mr Mendy, his career is on hold. Everyone has got to understand Mr Mendy can't go to work. This matter needs to be tried."

None of the women involved can be identified by law as complainants of sexual offences.

Both defendants were given bail in January after being in custody since both were first arrested on August 26 last year.

Mendy has played for City since 2017 having joined from Monaco in a £52million transfer.

He was suspended by the club after being charged by police.