Sunderland suspend winger Jack Diamond after he is charged with rape and sexual assault

The Sky Bet Championship club Sunderland suspended Jack Diamond on Thursday after the 23-year-old was charged with rape and sexual assault.

Diamond, who was on loan at the League One club Lincoln City, has also had his temporary deal at that club terminated with immediate effect.

Northumbria police revealed they had opened an investigation after receiving a report that a woman had been raped in May last year in the Washington area of Tyne and Wear.

“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,” a Northumbria police statement read.

“In May last year we received a report that a woman