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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Anthony France

Former Premier League footballer arrested over ‘rape’ at top London hotel told case dropped

A former Premier League footballer arrested on suspicion of raping a young woman at a upmarket hotel will face no further action.

Scotland Yard has dropped its investigation into the allegation at the Corinthia London in Whitehall Place, Westminster.

The 24-year-old was detained after the alleged victim raised the alarm with receptionists at the five star hotel on Wednesday morning.

The Sun newspaper reported that the player has played for several English clubs as well as a Premier League team.

It was reported that the woman, believed to be in her 20s, went to the hotel with the footballer after meeting him in a central London bar on Tuesday.

It is alleged that she alerted the hotel’s front desk early on Wednesday morning claiming she had been attacked and raped.

Police arrested him at the hotel just before 10am that morning and he was taken to Charing Cross Police Station before being released on bail until a date in mid-December.

But police have now revealed that the matter is being dropped.A Metropolitan Police spokesman said on Monday: “A 24-year old man was arrested at 9.53am on Wednesday, October 9 at an address on Whitehall Place, SW1A, following an allegation of rape.

Police were called to the Corinthia London after the woman alerted receptionist (Jack Hardy)

“He was taken into custody and bailed.

“The case has since been closed with no further action.”

The complainant was taken to a Haven rape counselling suite and is being supported by specialist police officers.

Officers carried out a forensic examination of the suspect’s £750-a-night room following his arrest. He had denied the rape claim.

A source told The Sun: “She met the player in a bar and agreed to go back to his hotel, where he had booked into earlier. She claims he then attacked and raped her.

“The woman went to the front desk at the hotel and was said to have been very distressed.

“Police were called and officers arrived and arrested him at the hotel. He was then led out to the amazement of guests and staff. He has played in the Premier League and people will recognise him.”

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