One of the women who claim they were raped by footballer Benjamin Mendy reportedly searched online for his “worth” days before speaking informally to police, his trial has heard.
She was said to have made the search just over two weeks before she gave a statement to officers, and months after the alleged attack in July 2021.
The woman denied having “a mind to apply for compensation”, a jury at Chester Crown Court was told.
Representing the 28-year-old Manchester City left-back, Eleanor Laws QC asked the woman: “Why would you be searching for Mr Mendy’s worth before making a statement?”
The woman replied: “On what date did I do that?”
Ms Laws said: “Why would you be interested in what he was worth on 17 January?”
She answered: “I wasn’t particularly interested but he was headlines and stuff… obviously I’m going to Google him.”
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Ms Laws QC then asked “have you a mind to apply for compensation at some point?” – to which the woman responded by saying “no, and I haven’t done”.
The alleged rape is said to have taken place when the former French national player and the woman were alone in a cinema room during a party at his mansion in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire.
The woman reportedly made the search following media coverage of other allegations by different women, which had prompted police to contact her.
‘When police approached me I told them everything’
Prosecutor Timothy Cray QC asked why she decided to give evidence to the police months after the alleged rape.
She said: “Well, seeing the headlines all the time, being reminded of it, I knew whether to say anything or not say anything, going to the police was a massive scary thing to do but when they approached me I told them everything and they said I had the choice to come forward or not.”
Mr Cray then asked her if she told an untrue version of events to help other girls who had made allegations.
She replied: “I would not put myself through this if that was the case.”
Mendy denies eight counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against seven young women.
His co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, the footballer’s friend and fixer, is alleged to have had the job of finding young women for sex.
The 41-year-old, of Eccles, Salford, denies eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault relating to eight young women.
Both men say any sex was consensual.
The trial continues.
