Former Premier League footballer Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 34, charged with beating his wife as he appears in court
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By WILL GRIFFEE
Published: | Updated:
Ex-Premier League winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has appeared in court after being charged with beating his wife.
The 34-year-old, who currently plays for MK Dons, was accused of assaulting his spouse, Saira Mendez-Laing back in June at their Staffordshire home.
He was arrested after police were called to the property in Shenstone and charged with assault by beating. The Crown Prosecution Service then authorised those charges last month.
Mendez-Laing appeared in Cannock magistrates' court on Friday and denied the charge.
Mendez-Laing and Saira, who is the mother of his child, have only been married for a year having tied the knot last summer.
He was seen entering the court on crutches and confirmed his name, age and address, without speaking further.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, pictured with his wife Saira, denies the charge of beating her
The court heard that Mendez-Laing was accused of hitting his wife over the head repeatedly and injuring her arm in the alleged incident.
The dispute between the couple started over a 'disagreement about a phone', but the footballer insists the confrontation did not turn into a physical assault.
The case will go to trial in January next year and the judge, Joseph O'Connor, allowed Mendez-Laing conditional bail rather than remanding him in custody.
MK Dons have said they cannot comment on an ongoing case and are struggling in League One this season.
Mendez-Laing played in the Premier League for Cardiff in 2019-20 and scored four times in 20 games for the Welsh side.
He also turns out for Guatemala, who he qualifies for through his mother and maternal grandmother.
Mendez-Laing has not been seen on the pitch since the opening day of the League One campaign. He moved to MK Dons after spending three years at Derby, during which time he scored 19 goals in 131 games.
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