Ched Evans's rape conviction

Nine people have each been ordered to pay a rape victim for revealing her name on social networks after footballer Ched Evans was convicted of raping her at Caernarfon Crown Court in April.

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Footballer Ched Evans loses court appeal

Footballer Ched Evans has lost a court appeal which challenged his rape conviction in April. The former Sheffield United and Wales striker had his case rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in London.

The 23-year-old was jailed for five years in April for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room.

Evans denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping her at a hotel in North Wales in May last year.

We can see no possible basis which would justify us interfering with the verdict of the jury, which heard all the evidence and reflected on it after careful summing up by the judge

– Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge

The judges also threw out a bid by Evans to have his sentence reduced.

Nine plead guilty to revealing identity of woman raped by footballer Ched Evans.

Nine people have pleaded guilty to revealing the identity of the woman raped by footballer Ched Evans on a social networking site, after Evans was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court in April.

They all claimed that they were not aware that naming her was a criminal offence.

The law gives the victims and alleged victims of rape and other sexual offences lifelong anonymity.

The defendants appeared at Prestatyn Magistrates' Court charged with publishing material likely lead members of the public to identify the complainant in a rape case, contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 1992.

All nine have been ordered to pay £624 each in compensation.

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Two more charged over naming of rape victim

Two more people have been charged after posting Twitter messages identifying the victim in the rape case which led to the conviction of footballer Chedwyn (Ched) Evans. The number of defendants charged in relation to the matter now stands at four.

We have now concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Benjamin Davies, 27, from Rhyl and Michael Ashton, 21, from Llanddulas, with the offence of publishing a matter likely to lead members of the public to identify the complainant in a rape case, contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 1992. The Attorney General has granted consent to these prosecutions.

– Jim Brisbane, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales

Both men have been charged by North Wales Police and bailed to appear before Prestatyn Magistrates’ Court on the 5th November.

The Crown Prosecution service are continuing to complete their evidential reviews in respect of a number of people under investigation by North Wales Police.

First charges over Ched Evans rape victim 'naming'

Two people have been charged with offences relating to messages posted online that allegedly identified the victim in the rape case which led to the conviction of footballer Ched Evans.

Jim Brisbane, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales, said:

The Crown Prosecution Service have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Dominic Green, 23, from Rhyl and Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, with the offence of publishing a matter likely to lead members of the public to identify the complainant in a rape case, contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

Evidence relating to a number of other suspects has been presented to us as part of this investigation and our evidential reviews are continuing.

– Jim Brisbane, Crown Prosecution Service

Both have been charged by North Wales Police and bailed to appear before Prestatyn Magistrates’ Court on the 5th November.

Footballer fails in rape conviction appeal application

Welsh footballer, Ched Evans, has had his application for an appeal against his rape conviction refused.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to five years in jail in April for raping a 19-year-old woman in a Rhuddlan hotel last year.

A statement was uploaded on the Facebook site, 'Securing an immediate retrial for Ched Evans', saying "the Single Judge has refused Ched Evans’ application" but that Evans will "continue with his appeal to the full Court of Appeal".

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Police meet broadcaster over Evans rape trial coverage

North Wales police have met with broadcaster Sky News over their coverage of the rape trial of Wales international footballer Ched Evans.

The channel broadcast the identity of Evans' victim via social networking websites following his conviction for rape last month.

Rape victims are guaranteed anonymity from media coverage under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

Evans was jailed for five years at Caernarfon Crown court.

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