The grandfather of footballer Jesse Lingard has passed away while awaiting a retrial for alleged child sex offences. Kenneth Lingard, 87, died on June 10, 2026, before he could face a retrial after a jury failed to reach verdicts on 15 alleged counts of child sex abuse.
Background of the Case
Kenneth Lingard faced trial at Liverpool Crown Court last year, charged with sexually abusing a girl from the age of five. The jury acquitted him of two counts of indecent assault but could not reach verdicts on the remaining 15 counts, which can now be reported.
Court Hearing
At a hearing on Monday, Benjamin Aina KC, prosecuting, stated: "On June 10 this year, Kenneth Lingard passed away and a death certificate has been produced." Lingard, of Northway, Warrington, had been scheduled to face a retrial in May, but it was postponed after the court heard he was in hospital.
Allegations and Testimony
The first trial heard that the historic allegations were reported to police by the complainant in November 2022, following the release of a documentary in which Jesse Lingard spoke about his grandfather's positive influence on his career. The jury was told the woman messaged the midfielder after the programme aired, saying: "Shame on you Jesse Lingard. Loads of lies. Your grandad Kenneth Lingard molested and sexually abused me and you know he did."
The former Manchester United and England player flew to the UK from South Korea, where he was playing for FC Seoul, to give evidence in his grandfather's defence last April. The footballer, who currently plays for Brazilian team Corinthians, refuted any knowledge of the alleged abuse, telling the court: "If I knew any of these allegations, I'd have cut ties with him years ago."
Defendant's Statement
Kenneth Lingard, a former gymnastics coach and powerlifter, told the court the assaults "never happened." Speaking to the court on Monday, Judge Katherine Pierpoint stated: "In the circumstances of this case, having seen the evidence which shows the death of the defendant on June 10 this year, any existing indictments no longer have any legal effect unless the court is shown otherwise."
