Nathaniel Mendez-Laing Denies Assault Charges in Staffordshire Court

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has denied assaulting his wife after appearing before magistrates in Staffordshire.

The MK Dons winger, 34, is accused of attacking his wife, Saira Mendez-Laing, at their luxury home in Shenstone, Staffordshire, in June. Police were called to the address and the former Premier League player was arrested and later charged with assault by beating.

At Cannock magistrates’ court on Friday, Mendez-Laing entered a not guilty plea to a single count of assault by beating. Birmingham-born, he arrived on crutches and spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

The court heard that Saira, the mother of his child, was allegedly struck repeatedly over the head and suffered an arm injury during the incident. The confrontation was said to have started after a disagreement about a phone. Mendez-Laing denies any physical attack.

Charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service last month. District Judge Joseph O’Connor granted conditional bail and listed the case for trial in January next year.

Mendez-Laing, who represents the Guatemala national team through his mother and maternal grandmother, previously played in the Premier League for Cardiff City, scoring four goals in 20 top-flight appearances in the 2019/20 season before leaving the club in September 2020. He also had a spell with Wolves earlier in his career.

He married Saira in June last year, with MK Dons marking the occasion by posting a wedding photograph and congratulatory message on the club’s official social media channels.

MK Dons, currently 19th in League One, said it could not comment on an ongoing court case.