Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of one count of rape and one attempted rape.
The 28-year-old broke down in tears as the jury foreman announced the acquittals after a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court.
He had been running for verdicts but then sank into his seat with his head on his knees.
Mendy, whose contract with the Premier League champions ended on July 1, has been acquitted of attempting to rape a then 29-year-old woman in October 2018 at his £4million villa in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire .
He was also found not guilty of raping a second 24-year-old woman two years later, also at his home address.
The jury of six men and six women was absent for about three hours and 15 minutes before announcing their verdicts.
Judge Steven Everett replied: “Mr. Mendy may be released from the dock.”
Mendy was acquitted by a jury of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault earlier this year after a six-month trial.
Mendy’s lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said the footballer was “delighted” with Friday’s verdicts.
She added, “He thanks everyone who has supported him through this ordeal and now asks for privacy so he can start rebuilding his life.”
Mendy was asked by reporters outside court if he was now trying to pursue his football career, but he declined to comment.
(Photo: Getty Images)