Ex-England international Jesse Lingard reportedly chose not to give a witness statement to the police during their investigation into claims of sexual abuse by his grandfather, a court was told.
The 32-year-old football player, currently playing in South Korea, was contacted about accusations that Kenneth Lingard, 86, allegedly abused a woman over a period of 15 years, starting when she was just five years old.
Detective Constable Scott Chambers informed the jury that former Manchester United player Lingard and his mother both refused to provide a statement.
Kenneth, from Warrington, Cheshire, denies 17 charges of indecent assault that allegedly occurred between 1970 and 1985.
The alleged victim came forward after watching a Channel 4 documentary about Jesse Lingard`s rise to fame.
The woman, now 60, stated that she reported Kenneth to the police because the documentary depicted him as a “hero” and she believed Lingard had told “many untruths”.
The court also heard testimony from the complainant`s second husband, who mentioned confronting Kenneth about the abuse allegations in the mid-1990s.
He recounted to the jury, “I confronted him about it – the abuse.”
“I remember him looking directly at me and denying the accusations.”
The man, who divorced the complainant after eleven years, added that she had attempted suicide during their marriage and received hospital treatment.
The jury was informed that Kenneth voluntarily participated in a police interview in January 2023, two months after the documentary aired, and denied all allegations.
He stated, “None of it happened.”
“My grandson cannot believe what she is saying.”
The trial is ongoing.
