Woman 'raped by ex-Reds star and pal after night out'

JURY HEARS ALLEGED VICTIM THOUGHT HER DRINK WAS SPIKED

- PAUL BRITTON

A WOMAN was raped by a former Manchester United youth team footballer and a friend of his after a night out, a jury has been told.

John Cofie was at the Old Trafford club from the age of 14 until he was 21, before playing abroad until the age of 26, jurors were told.

Both Cofie and Nathan Stuart, both now 31, deny the charges of rape they face.

Opening the case to the jury at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday, Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, said the alleged victim was 25 at the time.

The jury was told she went out with a friend in Altrincham and met Cofie and Stuart on the evening of April 12, 2019.

Jurors were told the women went to the Conservative Club in Altrincham, buying a bottle of wine and sitting outside to drink it.

Ms Thomson said they later went inside and were 'called over' by the defendants to join them. All four then went to the Green Room at Goose Green in Altrincham.