FORMER England star Jesse Lingard refused to give police a witness statement during their investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by his grandad, a court heard yesterday.

The footballer, 32, now based in South Korea, was contacted over claims that Kenneth Lingard, 86, had targeted his alleged victim over 15 years, starting when she was just five.

Investigating officer DC Scott Chambers told jurors ex-Man United star Lingard and his mum had both declined to give a statement.

Kenneth, of Warrington, Cheshire, denies 17 counts of indecent assault between 1970 and 1985.

His alleged victim came forward after watching a Channel 4 documentary about Jesse’s rise to stardom.

The woman, who is now 60, said that she reported the OAP to cops because the documentary portrayed him as “some kind of hero” and that Lingard had told “loads of lies”.

The court heard from the complainant’s second husband yesterday, who said that he had gone to see Kenneth over the allegations in the mid 1990’s.

He told the jury: “I confronted him about it – the abuse.

“I remember him looking me straight in the eye and saying that he didn’t do it.”

The man, who divorced the complainant after eleven years of marriage, said that she had taken an overdose during their relationship and had been treated in hospital.

The jury was told that Kenneth voluntarily gave a police interview in January 2023 – two months after the documentary aired – and dismissed the allegations.

He said: “None of it happened.

” My grandson cannot believe what she is saying.”

The trial continues.

1