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7 months ago
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Benjamin Mendy has had his High Court bankruptcy case dismissed after he paid a £700,000 tax bill by selling off his Cheshire mansion where he held lockdown parties with girls.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had sought a bankruptcy order against the former Manchester City footballer over the bill.
At a hearing on Monday before a specialist insolvency judge, lawyers for the French defender said the outstanding sum of just under £710,000 had been paid.
Louis Doyle KC, for the footballer, said proceedings had been previously adjourned to allow for Mr Mendy's sprawling mansion near Macclesfield, Cheshire, to be sold.
The court heard the sum had not yet reached HMRC, but after receiving undertakings from lawyers, Chief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nicholas Briggs dismissed the bankruptcy proceedings against Mr Mendy.
Benjamin Mendy has had his High Court bankruptcy case dismissed after he paid a £700,000 tax bill
The former Manchester City footballer sold his 11,000sq-ft Cheshire mansion (pictured) where he held lockdown parties with girls
His lawyer told the short hearing that Mr Mendy did not previously have the money immediately available to pay the tax debt, adding that his salary for French club Lorient (pictured playing for in September) is 'about one tenth' of his previous wage
Judge Briggs said: 'In the circumstances, there is nothing left in this petition... I shall accept the undertaking.
'I shall dismiss the petition with costs.'
Mr Doyle said in response: 'That order marks the end of these proceedings.'
'That's correct,' Judge Briggs replied.
Earlier on Monday, the High Court in London was told that Mr Mendy, 29, owes less than £5,000 in council tax to Cheshire East Council.
However, Mr Doyle said he was confident the debt would be paid promptly, adding that Mr Mendy 'won't have picked up post and won't have realised he's in debt to the borough council' as he has been away from the property.
At a hearing in February, the court heard that Mr Mendy was bringing legal action against his former club for £10million after Manchester City stopped paying him when he was charged with rape in 2021.
HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) had sought a bankruptcy order against the former Manchester City footballer over the bill
His prestigious former home in the village of Mottram St Andrew (pictured) features a swimming pool and gym
The property was bought by Mendy from cricketing legend Andrew Flintoff in 2018 for £4.8million. Pictured: The kitchen diner
The large property was used for parties in lockdown with girls
The footballer was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January 2023 after a trial at Chester Crown Court.
He was then cleared of one more count of rape and attempted rape in July after a retrial at the same court.
The trial heard Mendy, who joined City in 2017, had a hard-partying lifestyle, clubbing two or three times a week as well as inviting numerous young women to his home and frequently having sex with more than one on the same night.
His lifestyle was an open secret among colleagues.
Some of the parties which led to the offences Mendy was charged with took place while he was being treated for a knee injury between October and November 2020 and in breach of Covid rules which were then in place.
Giving evidence in court, Mendy – who spent time in prison on remand after being charged - said: 'I was enjoying the house, I was enjoying the women.'
Mr Mendy leaves Chester Crown Court having been found not guilty of one count of rape and one of attempted rape in July
The house which includes a gym, pool and spa is in one of the most exclusive roads in Cheshire's so-called 'golden triangle'
The Frenchman's contract with Man City expired in June 2023, but they stopped paying him in September 2021 as he was facing trial for a string of sex offences
Mr Doyle told the short hearing that Mr Mendy did not previously have the money immediately available to pay the tax debt, adding that his salary for French club Lorient is 'about one tenth' of his previous wage.
Mr Mendy had originally put his property up for sale for £5million but was forced to slash the price by £750,00 in a desperate bid to sell up and pay HMRC.
The stunning 11,000 sq ft home features a cinema room, football pitch and swimming pool.
The Cheshire home in the village of Mottram St Andrew was described by estate agents Savills as 'one of the finest contemporary homes in Cheshire'.
The 'amazing 11,000sq-ft residence' is set in over 1.75 acres of grounds and boasts six bedroom suites, an open plan living area, games room, home cinema, swimming pool, steam room, gym and spa.
Among the highlights are 'an enormous principal bedroom suite with a vaulted bedroom area, a fitted dressing room and a large en-suite bathroom.'
The property was bought by Mendy from cricketing legend Andrew Flintoff in 2018 for £4.8m.
Flintoff, who never lived at the house, bought it for £1.8million in 2008 and spent two years rebuilding the property – before renting it out.
His tenants included former footballer Peter Crouch and wife Abbey Clancy.
The house is in one of the most exclusive roads in Cheshire's so-called 'golden triangle', made up of villages between Prestbury, Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.
Neighbours on the lane have included former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, before he and his family moved to a newly-built £20m mansion nearby.
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