Second man arrested in Benjamin Mendy sex attack probe: Suspect, 40, held on suspicion of rape – after Man City star, 27, appeared in court over five sexual offences
Police have arrested a second man in connection with an ongoing rape investigation into Manchester City star Benjamin Mendy.
The man, who is 40-years-old, was arrested on suspicion of rape and was bailed pending further enquiries according to a Cheshire Police spokesperson.
It follows news that World Cup winning left back Mendy faced Cheshire Magistrates' Court on Friday accused of four counts of rape in his home and one charge of sexual assault.
Mendy, 27, who moved to the reigning champions for £52million four years ago, is accused of committing one of the alleged rapes while on bail for the other four offences.
The incidents reportedly took place at the defender's £5million home in Prestbury, Cheshire between October 2020 and August 2021, with one alleged victim aged under 18-years-old.
Judge Jack McGarva denied Mendy's application for bail, meaning he will spend the next two weeks behind bars until his upcoming trial date on September 10.
Manchester City have also launched, following Mendy's charge, their own inquiry into his actions and have suspended him while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Benjamin Mendy is pictured on August 12 out with his teammates at The Ivy in Manchester
Mendy, 27, is pictured inside a prison van wearing a red Balenciaga hoodie as he leaves Chester Magistrates' Court after he was remanded in custody
Photographers take pictures through the windows of a prison van carrying Mendy on Friday
The French defender, who was suspended by Manchester City this week after being charged, appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday to face the allegations.
He arrived in a prison van under a police escort.
Mendy, of Prestbury, Cheshire, wearing a red Balenciaga hoodie and black jogging bottoms, stood in the dock with his arms folded as the charges were put to him. He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth and entered no pleas.
The footballer, who had arrived at court in a prison van under a police escort, faces five charges relating to three alleged complainants, one of whom is aged under 18.
A prison officer prepares a prison van outside Chester Magistrates' Court Friday afternoon
A prison officer helps a prison van driver reverse outside Chester Magistrates' Court
Police said that all three alleged complainants were aged over 16. Proceedings at the court yesterday were relayed back to the France international via an interpreter.
Mendy earns £90,000 a week and lives in a £5million mansion in Prestbury, an upmarket village near Manchester popular with fellow professional footballers.
He is charged with three counts of rape in October 2020 at his home in Prestbury, and the sexual assault of a woman at his home in early January this year.
Mendy is also charged with the rape of a woman this month, also at his home.
A charge of breaking bail conditions was on the court list but withdrawn in court. It had been alleged he breached conditions in August, after being released on July 26.
Fourteen reporters were in court for the hearing, which was delayed for the arrival of the French interpreter.
A Man City spokesman said: 'Manchester City can confirm that, following his being charged by police, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation.
'The matter is subject to a legal process and the club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete.'
Benjamin Mendy plays for Manchester City against Tottenham Hotspur in London on August 15
Mendy's legal team arrive at Chester Magistrates' Court in Cheshire Friday morning
A legal team representing Benjamin Mendya arrive at Chester Magistrates' Court
Footballer Benjamin Mendy arrives at Chester Magistrates Court under police escort
Mendy arrives in a prison van at Chester Magistrates Court in Cheshire Friday morning
District Judge Jack McGarva sent the case to Chester Crown Court where Mendy is due to appear on September 10.
Mendy showed no emotion as he was taken from the court accompanied by two dock officers at the end of the hearing, which lasted about an hour.
He has been remanded into custody at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool, and was taken away in a prison van as photographers took pictures of him through the windows.
Earlier, Mendy arrived at Chester Magistrates' Court in a different GeoAmey prison vehicle. The DAF van was given an escort by a Peugeot 308 police car before driving into the court building through an open red shutter door, which was then closed.
Sportsmail revealed in November that a Premier League star had been arrested on suspicion of rape, but was unable to reveal his identity for legal reasons.
The DAF van is given an escort by a Peugeot 308 police car before driving into the court
The defender arrives at Chester Magistrates' Court in a GeoAmey prison van Friday morning
The van drives into the building through an open red shutter door before it is closed behind it
The shutter door is closed behind the prison van after it arrives at the court Friday morning
Yesterday, a spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said the Crown Prosecution Service had authorised the force to charge Mendy in connection with the alleged sex attacks, which involve three female complainants over the age of 16.
The spokesman said: 'Benjamin Mendy, aged 27, has been charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
'The charges relate to three complainants over the age of 16 and are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021.
'Mendy, of Prestbury, has been remanded in police custody and is set to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday 27 August.'
He added: 'Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service would like to remind everyone that criminal proceedings against Mendy are live and that he has a right to a fair trial.
Mendy is due to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court in Cheshire, pictured Friday morning
A blacked-out Mercedes vehicle waits outside Chester Magistrates' Court Friday afternoon
'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice ongoing proceedings.'
Mendy was part of France's World Cup winning squad in 2018, but did not play in the final. He has made 75 appearances for Man City since signing from Monaco in 2017.
He played in Man City's first two games this season but was on the bench for last weekend's league win over Norwich City.