Mendy rape accuser was 'in WhatsApp group with another alleged assault victim'

A woman who has accused Premier League footballer Benjamin Mendy of rape was in a WhatsApp group with another alleged sex assault victim who wanted to sue Manchester City, a court has heard.

The woman has alleged she was raped by Mr Mendy, 28, three times at his home in October 2020 when she was aged 20, after going back to his house with other women following a Sunday evening drinking session in a nearby bar.

Another complainant, aged 24 at the time, alleges that three months later, on 2 January 2021, Mr Mendy sexually assaulted her by grabbing her groin over her clothing at a party at his mansion, The Spinney, in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire.

Prosecutors allege Mr Mendy is a "predator" who "turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game".

Under cross-examination by Eleanor Laws QC, representing Mr Mendy, the rape complainant denied trying to "minimise" knowing the other woman, saying they had a mutual friend and telling police in a statement: "I think I may have met her once but cannot be sure."

She told the jury at Chester Crown Court she reported her rape allegation to police in November 2020 and found out about the groping allegation by the other woman in February 2021 and had to take two months off work due to the trauma of reliving her own experience.

The other complainant then went to police shortly after the two women were in contact in the February.

Ms Laws said: "After she found out about each other's allegations she goes to police two days later.

"Has she ever discussed with you because of what happened, she wanted to sue Manchester City for what happened to her?"

The woman replied: "I don't remember."

The witness said she did not remember both of them being part of a WhatsApp group but conceded they had both been with