Aston Villa have leapt to the defence of new signing Christian Benteke.

Villa have insisted Benteke took no part in an alleged car-jacking in Belgium last year.

Their new £7million star, 21, who played for Genk at the time, was arrested with two friends in November.

Villa said: "Christian and his legal team have co-operated with the investigation and witnesses confirmed he took no part in the matters alleged."