Benjamin Mendy freed on bail after appearing in court charged with seven counts of rape

Mendy was granted bail after appearing in court on Friday

Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy has been freed on bail after appearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday January 7. Mendy, who has been charged with eight offences against five women - including seven counts of rape - was granted bail with 'stringent' conditions by judge Patrick Thompson. He appeared in court alongside co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie. He will have to surrender his passport, live at his home address and make no contact with the complainants, Mendy was told. Mendy has previously been denied bail on two separate occasions in the past and has been held in custody for 134 days since he was first arrested on August 26, when he was also suspended by Manchester City. He will next appear in court on January 24, with Judge Thompson warning that failure to attend will result in the issuing of an arrest warrant. Mendy was earlier this week transferred to one of Britain's toughest prisons over 'fears for his safety'. The Frenchman had previously been located in Liverpool's HMP Altcourse, which is a category B prison, but was moved to Manchester's Strangeways during the Christmas period alongside co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie. A trial date is expected to be set for either June 27 or August 1 after the original date of January was pushed back. Related links:

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