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Ched Evans rape victim identified: 10 appear in court | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ten people have appeared in court accused of naming on social media a woman raped by footballer Ched Evans. | Ten people have appeared in court accused of naming on social media a woman raped by footballer Ched Evans. |
The former Sheffield United and Wales striker was jailed for five years in April for raping the 19-year-old. | The former Sheffield United and Wales striker was jailed for five years in April for raping the 19-year-old. |
Seven men and three women, aged between 18 and 27 and from the north Wales and Sheffield areas, are accused of naming the victim on Twitter and Facebook. | Seven men and three women, aged between 18 and 27 and from the north Wales and Sheffield areas, are accused of naming the victim on Twitter and Facebook. |
Nine defendants have pleaded guilty at Prestatyn Magistrates' Court while one denies the charge. | Nine defendants have pleaded guilty at Prestatyn Magistrates' Court while one denies the charge. |
The defendants include Evans's cousin Gemma Thomas from Rhyl, the footballer's friend Craig McDonald, 26, from Prestatyn and 25-year-old school teacher Hollie Price from Prestatyn. | |
The other defendants are Michael Ashton, 21, from Llanddulas; Benjamin Davies, 27, from Rhyl; David Cardwell, 25, from Sheffield, Paul Devine, 26, from Sheffield; Dominic Green, 23, from Rhyl and Shaun Littler, 22, from Sheffield. | |
All have pleaded guilty except for Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, who has pleaded not guilty. | All have pleaded guilty except for Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, who has pleaded not guilty. |
Magistrates heard the victim was accused of "crying rape", "lying" and "money-grabbing" on the social networks. | |
The nine who have pleaded guilty 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. | |
District Judge Andrew Shaw will sentenced them later. | |
Evans was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court on April 20 for raping the woman in a Rhyl hotel room. | |
The footballer admitted having sex with her, but the woman told the jury that she had no memory of the incident - and the prosecution argued that she was too drunk to consent. | The footballer admitted having sex with her, but the woman told the jury that she had no memory of the incident - and the prosecution argued that she was too drunk to consent. |
Following the conclusion of the trial, the victim was named by these nine people between 20-22 April on Twitter and Facebook. | |
He is due to appeal against the conviction at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday. |