Ched Evans's rape conviction

Seventeen arrests have now been made in connection with the alleged naming on Twitter of the victim in footballer Ched Evans' rape case. North Wales Police, working with South Yorkshire Police, arrested four more men in Sheffield on Tuesday.

The men, aged between 19 and 30 were questioned in Sheffield before being bailed to return to a police station in North Wales in early July. North Wales Police confirmed that more arrests are planned.

The Force is reminding people that the law gives rape victims and other victims of serious sexual offences, anonymity for life and that if anyone publishes a victim's identity they will be subject to investigation and possible criminal proceedings.

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North Wales police have arrested a thirtienth person in connection with comments made about the victim in the Ched Evans rape case online.

It comes as nine others are released on bail pending further inquiries after being arrested yesterday. Police say further arrests are expected.

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Nine people arrested yesterday in connection with the alleged naming of the Ched Evans rape victim on Twitter have been released on bail pending further inquiries, say North Wales Police.

The five men and four women from Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire have been bailed until July, as have three men from the Sheffield area who were arrested and released on bail last week.

North Wales Police say their investigation is continuing and further arrests are expected.

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North Wales Police have arrested nine more people as part of their investigation into the alleged naming of a rape victim on social media sites.

Three men and three women from Rhyl, Prestatyn and Llanddula were arrested early this morning and are being held at St Asaph police station.

Later in the morning another woman was arrested in Broughton, Flintshire and a man was arrested in Colwyn Bay.

A fifth man was arrested in Abergele at lunchtime today.

We continue to be proactive in this investigation and anticipate that further arrests will be made in the near future

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North Wales Police have warned that "further arrests" will be made over the alleged naming of a rape victim on Twitter. Wales footballer Ched Evans was last week jailed for five years for the rape of a 19-year-old woman at a hotel at Rhuddlan.

Yesterday, police arrested three men, who have been released on bail. Two of the men were arrested under the Sexual Offences Amendments Act and the third was held on suspicion of malicious communication.

Victims of rape and other sexual assaults are given lifetime anonymity.

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North Wales Police have confirmed that the three people arrested as part of their investigation into the naming of the victim in the Ched Evans rape case have been released on bail.

The arrests came after claims that the individuals had used the social networking site Twitter to name the woman.

All three have been bailed following questioning at Sheffield Police Station to return to a police station in North Wales in the near future.

Further arrests are planned and will be made in the forthcoming days

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North Wales Police say three people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the naming of the victim in the Ched Evans rape case on Twitter.

Evans was jailed for five years last week after being found guilty of raping the 20 year old woman at a hotel near Rhyl last May.

Two men have been arrested under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Amendments Act and another has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication.

All three men are being held at Sheffield police station where they are being interviewed by North Wales Police officers.

North Wales Police DCI Steve Williams said: “These arrests were made with the assistance of South Yorkshire Police and are part of a series of planned arrests we will be making during this on going investigation.”

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Wales and Sheffield United striker Ched Evans is to appeal against his conviction for rape, his lawyers have confirmed.

In a statement issued through Sheffield United tonight, the footballer's legal team said he 'firmly maintains his innocence'.

Mr Evans firmly maintains his innocence in this matter and as such, we confirm that Mr Evans will be appealing the decision._

No further comment will be made while the appeal process is on-going._

Evans, 23, is serving a five-year jail term following the trial at Caernarfon Crown Court last week in which he was found guilty of raping the 19-year-old woman, who was 'too drunk to consent'.

He had admitted having sex with the woman at a hotel near Rhyl, Denbighshire, but said it was consensual.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, 23, also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of rape.

Sheffield United said they would not be making any comment at this time.

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