Woman ‘sexually abused by Jesse Lingard’s grandad’ messaged star saying ‘shame on you’ after he praised him in TV show
A WOMAN who claims she was sexually abused by Jesse Lingard’s grandad messaged the footballer saying “shame on you”, a court heard.
Kenneth Lingard, 86, is accused of sexually assaulting the woman from the age of five until she was 19.
She reported the alleged abuse to the police after watching a Channel 4 documentary that featured ex-Man Utd star Jesse.
The footballer, who now plays for FC Seoul in South Korea, had praised his grandfather’s influence on his career.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the woman messaged him three times on November 18, 2022.
In one, the woman 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, she referred 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”.
When she received no reply, the woman messaged a friend of the footballer who he was on holiday with at the time, the court heard.
She claimed he had “no right doing that documentary” when his grandfather had “molested” her for years.
The alleged victim added: “F****** cheeky twat. Shame on you Jesse Lingard.”
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.
Midfielder Jesse joined Man Utd’s youth academy aged seven and progressed to the first team in the 2011-12 season.
He made 149 appearances – scoring 20 times including in FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield finals.
Jesse moved to Nottingham Forest in 2022 but left a year later after an underwhelming time at the City Ground.
He then joined South Korean side FC Seoul in February 2024 on a two-year deal – taking a huge pay cut on £17,500-per-week.