BREAKING: Benjamin Mendy found NOT GUILTY of six counts of rape as prosecutors seek retrial

Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

The Premier League star, 28, was cleared of sex attacks on four women following a six-month trial at Chester Crown Court.

But jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape. Mendy will face a retrial on those counts on June 26.

The France international footballer – a £52million signing for Man City in 2017 – had been on trial alongside friend Louis Saha Matturie at Chester Crown Court since August 10.

Saha Matturie, 41, Mendy’s co-accused and alleged ‘fixer’ was found not guilty by the jury of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers.

Jurors also failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against him by five other women.

Mendy, sitting in the dock at Chester Crown Court, covered his face with both hands, gently rocking back and forth, as the jury foreman, delivering the verdicts in a hushed courtroom, repeated “not guilty” to six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to four young women or teenagers.

The unanimous verdicts were delivered on Wednesday by the seven men and four women on the jury, one juror having been discharged earlier for medical reasons.

But jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape. Mendy will face a retrial on those counts on June 26.

The France international footballer – a £52million signing for Man City in 2017 – had been on trial alongside friend Louis Saha Matturie at Chester Crown Court since August 10.

Saha Matturie, 41, Mendy’s co-accused and alleged ‘fixer’ was found not guilty by the jury of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers.

Jurors also failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against him by five other women.

Mendy, sitting in the dock at Chester Crown Court, covered his face with both hands, gently rocking back and forth, as the jury foreman, delivering the verdicts in a hushed courtroom, repeated “not guilty” to six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to four young women or teenagers.

The unanimous verdicts were delivered on Wednesday by the seven men and four women on the jury, one juror having been discharged earlier for medical reasons.