A former Premier League and England footballer was arrested at Stansted Airport on suspicion of attempted rape. He was stopped at passport control due to outstanding police inquiries regarding an allegation made by a former partner.
Border Force officers alerted Essex Police, who arrested the individual. He was taken to a police station for fingerprinting, DNA sampling, and a mugshot.
The footballer was detained for several hours before being released on bail. He is scheduled to return in late February 2026 as investigations continue. The complainant has been interviewed by specialist sex crimes officers and is receiving support.