Man U star Greenwood freed on bail
Striker accused of rape bid
MANCHESTER United striker Mason Greenwood was yesterday freed on bail after two nights in jail.
Greenwood, 21, had been taken to HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, on Monday when district judge Mark Hadfield denied him bail and remanded him in custody until next month to face charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour plus assault.
In a brief hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, yesterday Judge John Potter freed him pending a court appearance on November 21.
Charged
The footballer was not present but was represented by his legal team during discussions held in private.
Greenwood’s bail conditions mean he must stay at his rented home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester, and must not contact the complainant – who cannot be named for legal reasons – or a string of witnesses.
He was charged with attempting to rape a woman,plus engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour – namely “monitoring her social media accounts and making threats and derogatory comments towards her, amounting to a serious effect upon her”. The England star is also accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
All three of the charges relate to the same woman.
He was first held in January over allegations relating to a young woman after images were posted online.Within hours of the claims surfacing the star was suspended from training or playing with his Old Trafford club.
Greenwood was arrested in the Trafford area last weekend for allegedly breaching bail conditions by contacting the woman. Revealing the decision to charge him, Janet Potter – deputy chief Crown prosecutor for the North-west of England – said that the Crown Prosecution Service had authorised charges “following a review of a file of evidence” from Greater Manchester Police.