A former England international and Premier League footballer was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape at Stansted Airport, according to reports. The incident occurred after the ex-player was stopped by Border Force officers at passport control on Sunday night.
Authorities detained the footballer based on a non-recent attempted rape allegation made by a former partner. Upon discovering a police alert linked to the suspect, Border Force prevented him from boarding his flight and immediately contacted Essex Police.
Police officers promptly arrived at Stansted Airport and took the individual into custody. At a nearby police station, the suspect underwent fingerprinting, DNA sampling, and a mugshot was taken. After being held for several hours, he was released on bail as the investigation continues.
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Essex Police have confirmed that specialist sex crimes officers have interviewed the complainant, who has also been offered counselling and support during this ongoing case. A spokesperson stated: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and has been bailed to a date in late February 2026 while we continue our enquiries.”
The case remains under active review as law enforcement gathers further evidence.