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Former Toon and England player Nile Ranger has been charged with rape, police have confirmed.

The London-born 22-year-old will appear in court next month following an investigation by Northumbria Police.

The ex-NUFC and England Under-19 striker left the club in March after almost six years.

A force statement said: “A rape was reported to police on Thursday, January 24, 2013, and relates to an incident which happened in the early hours of Wednesday, January 23, at a hotel in Jesmond.”

Ranger, now of Bailey Close, Harringay, London, will appear before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on August 21.

The alleged incident is believed to have occurred at the Carlton Hotel on Osborne Road in Jesmond.

Police arrived at the player’s former home at Forest Hall in North Tyneside, just hours after the alleged rape was reported to officers and took him to Wallsend police station for questioning.

After being quizzed he was released on bail before being formally charged by Northumbria Police yesterday.

The former Crystal Palace schoolboy player joined St James’ Park from Southampton in 2008 at the age of 17.

He left in March by mutual consent.

He spent most of the 2011-12 season on loan to League One side Sheffield Wednesday after a period on loan at Barnsley.