Jesse Lingard gives evidence at grandfather’s sexual assault trial

Footballer Jesse Lingard has told his grandfather’s sexual assault trial he would have “cut ties” with him if he had been aware of any allegations.

The player flew in from South Korea, where plays for FC Seoul, to appear at Liverpool Crown Court as a defence witness in the trial of Kenneth Lingard.

The 86-year-old is accused of historic sexual assaults against a complainant who has alleged he abused her from the age of five.

The court has heard the woman made allegations to police after a 2022 documentary in which Jesse Lingard, 32, spoke about his grandfather’s positive influence.

The footballer, who wore a black suit with white shirt and black tie to give evidence on Tuesday, said the woman contacted him after the documentary came out.

He said: “She was just going on about the documentary and how I let him be part of it when he’s done those things.

“I was like ‘what are you on about, I have not heard nothing about this’.”

He said the woman told him she was going to call the police.

He added: “I said ‘call them if you want’.

“She popped up out of nowhere, to be honest. It was kind of random.”

In messages to the former Manchester United and England player, the woman said: “Shame on you Jesse Lingard. Loads of lies. Your grandad Kenneth Lingard molested and sexually abused me and you know he did.”

The player told the court he had not known anything about the allegations before.

He said: “I would have cut ties with him straight away.

“My daughter wouldn’t be round there. My little sister wouldn’t be round there.”

Asked by Tom Price KC, defending, if he would lie on behalf of his grandfather, Jesse Lingard said: “No, never. If I knew any of these allegations I’d have cut ties with him years ago.”

Asked why he made the