Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy has appeared in court to face a new allegation of attempted rape.
The 27-year-old, who appeared at Chester Crown Court for a 90-minute pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, now faces nine charges in total involving six women, including seven counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape involving a new complainant.
Mendy attended along with co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40, who is accused of 10 offences, involving seven women, including seven counts of rape relating to five women and three of sexual assault.
Judge Patrick Thompson has advised lawyers to make sure there is no delay and that the case will be ready as he set a date for a trial, which is estimated to last up to six weeks, starting on July 25.
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."
Judge Thompson ruled that the new charge Mendy faces can now be reported and he has set a further pre-trial hearing for March 11.
All the charges date between late 2020 and August 2021 and none of the women involved can be identified by law as complainants of sexual offences.
Oliver Thomas
