30 March 2023 , 15:29
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Sunderland winger Jack Diamond has been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The 23-year-old's loan at League One club Lincoln City has been terminated after charges were brought against him on Thursday. Diamond was arrested after an alleged sexual assault in Washington, Tyne and Wear in May 2022 and he has been suspended by Sunderland pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
A Northumbria Police investigation has led to him being charged and a brief statement from Lincoln confirmed his loan spell had been cut short "with immediate effect". Diamond is due to appear in South Tyneside Magistrates' Court in May this year.
Jack Diamond's season-long loan at Lincoln City has been terminated (Chris Vaughan - CameraSport via Getty Images)A police statement read: "In May last year, we received a report that a woman had been sexually assaulted inside an address in the Washington area. An investigation was immediately launched and a man was subsequently arrested.
"Jack Diamond, 23, of Fatfield, Washington, has now been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault and is due to appear at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court in May."
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A statement from Sunderland reads: "Sunderland AFC has been notified that criminal charges have been brought against Jack Diamond by the Crown Prosecution Service.
"The player has been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the judicial process, and his loan agreement at Lincoln City Football Club has also been terminated. As this matter is subject to a legal process, the Club will not be making any further statement at this time."
Diamond, a Gateshead native, joined Sunderland's academy aged 14 and made his senior debut in 2018. He has spent three separate loan spells at Harrogate Town and joined Lincoln last August for the remainder of the season.
He has scored 29 goals in 157 appearances throughout his career, which has spanned the National League, League Two and League One.