- Greater Manchester Police said Mason Greenwood is no longer facing criminal charges
- He was battling rape and violence charges
- The case threatened to ruin his football career
Mason Greenwood, a Manchester United football player, is free after Greater Manchester Police dropped rape charges against him.
Greenwood, 21, was facing several criminal charges, among them attempted rape, violence and exhibiting coercive behavior.
Greater Manchester Police Head of Public Protection Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, in a statement, said they did their fair share of announcing that the United footballer was now a free man.
“Given the significant media coverage of this case, it is only fair that we share the news that the 21-year-old man, who had been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation opened in January 2022, no longer faces criminal proceedings in relation to this,” Manchester Evening News Reports.
Mason Greenwood. Photo/Marca
Kerr said that GMP investigation team maintained constant contact with the legal team, providing changes of significance. This explains the justification for the suspension of proceedings against Greenwood, which was not an easy one to make nor a light one.
He added that it was a decision informed by proper findings and was done within legal tenets of criminal justice. Further, the department saw it wise to clarify the reasons surrounding Greenwood’s release because the case had sparked widespread media coverage.
Nevertheless, GMP reaffirmed its commitment into probing incidences of violence meted out on girls and women. Greater Manchester Police will also offer support to the affected parties.
Already, a team from GMP are undergoing specialised training, and the force is more frequently using resources provided by the criminal justice system to protect citizens and assist victims.
Kerr urged the people to reports any cases of violence against women. Police detained Greenwood after a woman described physical assault in images and videos posted them online.
What followed was sportswear manufacturer Nike ending its affiliation with the Manchester United forward. Police in January 2022 said that the court granted them more time to question Greenwood by denying him bail.
Manchester United would follow suit by terminating his contract, saying it does not condone violence of any kind. Then, poster boy for Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo, led a pack of fans in unfollowing Greenwood on Instagram.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Alex Telles, David de Gea, Edinson Cavani and Scott McTominay were the first to unfollow the former United striker.
Mason Greenwood. Photo/The Times
Manchester United took down the entire internet store for Greenwood. The club also declined to provide him with legal support, claiming that the accusations against him were incompatible with what the club stands for.
He lost his £75,000 pay and spent nine months in prison fighting for bail. After making an appearance in Manchester Magistrates’ Court in October, the football player was initially denied bail.
He resorted to making a new application in private at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, where he was ultimately granted bail with restrictive conditions.
One of the bail requirements Greenwood was subjected to was not contacting any complainant in the case or witness and staying put at his residence in Bowdon along Bow Green Road until the case was over.
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