A footballer who lives in our area now faces seven alleged counts of rape and one sexual assault.

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy, of Prestbury's Withinlee Road, has just been charged with a further count of rape.

The Frenchman, who moved to Macclesfield in 2018, is now accused of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

This relates to five complaints, all of which are women.

At a previous hearing, Mendy's lawyer said that he 'strenuously denied' the allegations.

The latest offence the 27-year-old faces was revealed as Mr Mendy appeared at Chester Crown Court for a hearing ahead of his trial.

A new person is involved with the latest charge, alleged to have taken place in July this year.

The previously reported charges are alleged to have taken place over a ten month period between October 2020 and August 2021.

The Premier League-winning defender, who has been in custody since his arrest in August, appeared alongside his non-Macclesfield co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, of Eccles in Greater Manchester.

Mr Matturie is accused of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Both men were remanded into custody far away from Macc at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool, after the 40-minute hearing concluded.

Their trial, which was scheduled for January 24 2022, was pushed back to June or August 2022, after the football season ends.

The World Cup winner made one appearance for Manchester City this season, in August.

He has been suspended, but not fired by the Premier League table-toppers.

Mr Mendy has played at the Etihad Stadium since 2017, and he moved to Macc the following year.

He was born in Longjumeau, which is a suburb of Paris, which is a nine hour drive from Macc.

His current contract with the Sky Blues expires in June 2023.

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