Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of one count of rape

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of one count of rape on the direction of the judge at his trial.

Mr Mendy, 28, was cleared at Chester Crown Court of the rape of a 19-year-old woman at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire, on 24 July last year.

Co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of two counts of rape against the same woman.

They remain on trial for alleged sexual offences which they both deny.

Mr Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, was also cleared of one count of sexual assault against the same woman.

On Tuesday Judge Stephen Everett ordered the jury to clear the defendants of those counts after the prosecution offered no further evidence and formal not guilty counts were entered.

He had warned jurors not to speculate as to why the prosecution had decided not to pursue guilty verdicts and to continue to "faithfully" try the defendants on the multiple charges they still face.

Earlier the jury were told of a private video of the woman having "enthusiastic sex" with Mr Matturie when she claimed she had been raped.

The hearing was adjourned and when court resumed, prosecutors told the court they were no longer seeking guilty verdicts on alleged sexual offences involving the 19-year-old complainant.

The rape charge dropped against Mr Mendy related to an incident with Mr Matturie when the woman had claimed she awoke to find the footballer raping her.

Mr Mendy still faces seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against six young women.

Prosecutors have alleged Mr Mendy was a "predator" who "turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game".

Mr Matturie, the footballer's friend and fixer, is alleged to have had the job of finding young women for sex.

He denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to seven young women.

Both men said if any sex did take place with women or girls it was consensual.

The trial continues.

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