Benjamin Mendy transferred to one of England's toughest prisons

The British administration has decided to transfer Benjamin Mendy.

According to The Sun, one of the best-selling English tabloids across the Channel, the Manchester City player, accused of seven rapes and imprisoned since August in Liverpool in a category B establishment, spent Christmas in the high-security Strangeways prison. in Manchester (category A), one of the toughest in Britain, for his own safety.

EXCLUSIVE: Benjamin Mendy spent Christmas inside one of Britain's grimmest jailshttps: //t.co/x4bSByFPH4 pic.twitter.com/IBtXNnqSbs

- The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) January 4, 2022

"This change came as fears grew about his security inside," we can read on the Sun's website. Mendy and Louis Saha Matturie (the player's co-accused) have both been moved because their cases are high profile. This can lead to security and management issues for the detainees and it was felt that Category A conditions might be more adequate to deal with any potential problems ”.

"The prison administration has a responsibility to manage prisoners in the safest possible way," said a source close to Strangeways, also known as HMP Manchester, an establishment where another footballer, ex-Marseillais Joey Barton, had spent two months in 2008 after being sentenced to six months in prison for violence following the assault on a person leaving a fast food restaurant in Liverpool.

An inspection last September revealed that many of its 624 residents were stranded 22 hours a day at this prison, which has already hosted many murderers and serial killers.

Benjamin Mendy, will go to a preliminary hearing this Friday.

He should state whether he pleads guilty or not guilty to the new rape charges.

The maximum penalty he incurs, if he pleads not guilty, is life imprisonment.

His trial, initially scheduled for January 24, will not take place until the end of June at the earliest.