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Man City star charged with rape ‘having meltdown’ after thinking he would be sent to VIP prison wing

Benjamin Mendy has been charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The Manc The Manc - 1st September 2021

Manchester City star charged with rape has reportedly had “a meltdown” inside after thinking he would be sent to a VIP wing.

It was confirmed by police on Thursday that Benjamin Mendy had been charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

He was then remanded at Chester Magistrates’ court on Friday.

It has been reported that the footballer believed he would be allowed home after appearing in Chester Magistrates’ court, but was in shock when he was instead sent to HMP Altcourse – a Category A/B mens prison in Liverpool.

The Mirror reports that upon arrival at HMP Altcourse, Mendy was informed that he would be kept on the VP wing for vulnerable prisoners – but an exclusive report by The Sun claims that Mendy misheard and assumed that meant he would be taken to a VIP wing for celebrity figures.

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He was apparently in dismay when he realised that was not the case.

The 27-year-old left-back – who has played for Manchester City since 2017, joining from Monaco for a reported £52 million – is charged with three counts of rape in October 2020 and with the sexual assault of a woman in early January this year.

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He is also charged with raping a woman earlier this month.

Mendy was informed that he would be kept on the VP wing for vulnerable prisoners / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A charge of breaking bail conditions – which was alleged to have occurred in August after he was released on 26 July – also appeared on the court list, but this was withdrawn in court.

It was revealed that fourteen reporters were in court for the hearing on Friday, where Mendy was represented by barrister Christopher Stables and he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.

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During the hearing – which was said to have lasted about an hour – Mendy was represented by barrister Christopher Stables, and spoke to confirm his name, age and address, before being taken from the court accompanied by two dock officers and showing “no emotion” as he left.

District Judge Jack McGarva sent the case to Chester Crown Court, where Mendy is due to appear on 10 September.

Mendy was suspended by Manchester City on Thursday after being charged by police, pending an investigation, and the club said in a statement: “Manchester City can confirm that following his being charged by police today, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation.

“The matter is subject to a legal process and the Club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete.”

Featured Image – Manchester City

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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body

Danny Jones Danny Jones GMP appeal after body of Chorlton man found dead in bedroom

A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.

William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.

Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.

Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.

Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.

Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.

“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”

Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.

“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.

“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”

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With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”

You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.

Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police

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Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.

As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.

This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.

According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting. 

The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.  

Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.

Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.

More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.

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This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.

It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.  

Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)

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