Premier League player charged with raping 15-year-old

A Premier League player has been charged with the rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in France.

The Premier League logo is displayed on a flag before a match

The Premier League logo is displayed on a flag before a match Source: Getty Images

The unnamed 23-year-old is currently on bail along with his 25-year-old cousin for the alleged attack, which occurred in Nimes during July of 2012, according to UK outlet The Telegraph.

Both men could face up to 15 years in prison and they deny the charges of rape.

The Premier League footballer remains free to play for the time being but is in constant contact with French authorities.

The unidentified victim was 15 years of age at the time of the incident and, despite meeting the minimum age of consent in the country, claims to have been forced into the situation by the pair who were 17 and 19 at the time.

Neither the victim nor the alleged assailants are French, but were on holiday at the time, with alcohol said to have played a role.

The victim admitted to being drunk on 18 July 2012, the day in question, and claims the two men plied her with alcoholic drinks.

At the time of questioning the defendants denied having sex with the victim, but when faced with evidence later on the Premier League player changed his story, saying he had lied to police to avoid upsetting his girlfriend.

Both defendants now claim they had consensual sex with the complainant and also thought she was older than 15.

Both men first appeared in court last July but are yet to return with a date still to be confirmed.


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Premier League player charged with raping 15-year-old | SBS Sport