At his trial, Benjamin Mandy was called a “serial rapist” by the prosecutor.

The 28-year-old French defender, who was suspended by Manchester City for more than a year, has been on trial since early August, accused of seven counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The incidents are believed to have taken place between October 2018 and August 2021 at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire. He faces life imprisonment. The first months of this trial were devoted to the prosecution presenting Benjamin Mendy as a “predator” who abused “vulnerable, terrified and isolated” victims.

In early November, the accused denied that he “poses a danger to women”. She said she only had consensual sex. On Thursday, it was prosecutor Timothy Crain’s turn to speak. The footballer, she described, lured young women to his parties in “toxic and dangerous” situations.

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He spoke of an “ever-changing lineup of young women” before calling Benjamin Mendy a “serial rapist”, a “predator” during his time at the club. “Fame is a very good cover to hide the dark side of life,” continued Prosecutor Cray.

Benjamin Mendy, who won the World Cup with France in Russia in 2018, spent more than four months in pre-trial detention, from August 2021 to last January. He was then placed under judicial supervision pending trial. Having trained at Le Havre, ended up at Marseille and spent a season with Monaco, Benjamin Mendy became the most expensive defender in history for a while when the Citizens spent £52m (around €61.4m at the current stage) on him in 2017. services.

He is being tried alongside another man, Louis Saha Maturi, who is not related to former footballer Louis Saha, and is facing six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. They both pleaded not guilty.