According to court reports, former England international Jesse Lingard chose not to provide a witness statement to the police during their investigation into claims of sexual abuse by his grandfather.
The 32-year-old footballer, currently playing in South Korea, was approached regarding accusations that Kenneth Lingard, 86, abused his alleged victim over a 15-year period, beginning when she was only five years old.
Detective Constable Scott Chambers informed jurors that both the former Manchester United player Lingard and his mother had refused to give statements.
Kenneth, residing in Warrington, Cheshire, denies 17 charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred between 1970 and 1985.
The alleged victim reportedly came forward after watching a Channel 4 documentary that depicted Jesse`s journey to fame.
The woman, now 60 years old, stated that she reported Kenneth to the police because the documentary presented him as a “hero” and she felt Lingard had told “many untruths”.
Yesterday, the court heard testimony from the complainant`s second husband, who recounted confronting Kenneth about the abuse allegations in the mid-1990s.
He told the jury: “I confronted him about it – the abuse.
“I remember him looking me straight in the eye and saying that he didn`t do it.”
The man, who divorced the complainant after eleven years of marriage, mentioned that she had attempted suicide during their relationship 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 the allegations.
He stated: “None of it happened.
" My grandson cannot believe what she is saying.”
The trial is ongoing.
