Footballer Jesse Lingard testified today at his grandfather`s sex abuse trial, stating he would prevent his daughter from seeing him if the allegations were true.
The former Manchester United player gave evidence after Kenneth Lingard, 86, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman from the age of five until she was 19.
The woman reported the alleged historical abuse to the police after watching a documentary on Channel 4 that featured Jesse.
The England star, 32, had praised his grandfather`s influence on his career in the program.
Jesse, who flew in from South Korea where he plays for FC Seoul, told Liverpool Crown Court that the woman contacted him after the documentary was released.
He said: “She was just going on about the documentary and how I let him be part of it when he`s done those things.”
“I was like `what are you on about, I have not heard nothing about this`.”
Jesse said the woman told him she was going to call the police, prompting him to tell her: “Call them if you want”.
He told jurors she “popped out of nowhere” and that it was “kind of random”.
Jesse also said he would have “cut ties” with his grandad immediately if he knew anything about the abuse allegations.
He added: “My daughter wouldn`t be round there. My little sister wouldn`t be round there.”
Jesse, who scored in FC Seoul`s 2-1 loss on Saturday against Gwangju, said the trial has caused some of his sponsorship deals to fall through.
He also told the court he had lived with his grandparents from the age of two or three and that Lingard was very supportive of his career.
The footballer said: “He basically taught me football, taught all the skills, drove me up and down motorways from Liverpool to Manchester, Crewe, Barnsley, Stoke, to watch me play football.
“He`s been the man that`s got me here today.”
Jurors previously heard the woman messaged Jesse three times on November 18, 2022, after the show aired.
In one text, she said: “Shame on you Jesse Lingard. Loads of lies. Your grandad Kenneth Lingard molested and sexually abused me and you know he did.”
“You did the documentary for money and to make yourself some kind of mental health ambassador. Well, as you say, I`m speaking out. No more silence.”
In another message, she referred to Jesse hiding a “dark” secret that his grandfather was a “paedophile” and “child molester”.
She also branded the former England star`s late grandmother Pamela an “enabler”.
The woman claimed he had “no right doing that documentary” when his grandfather had “molested” her for years.
Jurors also heard calls she made to police on the day Jesse Lingard — The Untold Story was aired.
She asked officers how she could get someone “arrested for child abuse but historic child abuse?”
The woman also told police she “thought it was time to speak out about the abuse I had received” after watching the show.
She added: “It just made me feel ill that he was made out to be such a hero.”
Lingard, of Warrington, has denied 17 counts of indecent assault.
The trial continues.
