Woman 'woke to find footballer Benjamin Mendy on top of her', rape trial hears

A woman told a court of the moment she claims she woke up and found Benjamin Mendy 'on top' of her. Woman Six, who has not been named for legal reasons, has alleged that the Manchester City defender raped her at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire, after she'd drank champagne at a Manchester nightclub.

Mr Mendy's barrister claimed the woman had returned to Mr Mendy's home 11 times after the alleged rape in July 2021. The 28-year-old France international denies raping her and is standing trial at Chester Crown Court.

He has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of rape against five women, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault. The offences are alleged to have taken place on five different occasions between October 2018 and August last year, relating to seven women in total.

His co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 41, from Eccles, Salford, has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault, relating to eight women.

As the trial entered its fourth week, Woman Six told jurors that on the night of the alleged rape, she'd been invited to a party at Mr Mendy's home by Mr Matturie who had sent her a message on Snapchat. He had told her she could stay overnight, jurors heard.

Woman Six described the house as being 'busy', and that it was being renovated at the time. Shortly after she and her friend arrived at the party, Mr Matturie said he and others were heading to a nightclub in Manchester city centre, so Woman Six and her friend agreed to join them.

At the club they danced and drank champagne, and later decided to return to Mr Mendy's home, jurors heard. She got changed into her swimwear and she and others went in the pool at Mr Mendy's home.

They chatted, drank tequila and listened