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Ched Evans rape case: Tenth person fined for naming victim | Ched Evans rape case: Tenth person fined for naming victim |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who named a woman raped by Wales and Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans has been told to pay more than £1,600 in fines, costs and compensation. | |
Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, Chester admitted identifying the 19-year-old woman on Facebook or Twitter. | Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, Chester admitted identifying the 19-year-old woman on Facebook or Twitter. |
She changed her initial not guilty plea before Prestatyn magistrates on Monday. | She changed her initial not guilty plea before Prestatyn magistrates on Monday. |
Last November nine others pleaded guilty to identifying the woman and each told to pay her £624 compensation. | Last November nine others pleaded guilty to identifying the woman and each told to pay her £624 compensation. |
Striker Evans, from Rhyl, was jailed for five years last April for the offence carried out at a Premier Inn in Denbighshire in May 2011. | Striker Evans, from Rhyl, was jailed for five years last April for the offence carried out at a Premier Inn in Denbighshire in May 2011. |
The charge against Hewitt was brought under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 which grants victims of rape and alleged rape anonymity for life | The charge against Hewitt was brought under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 which grants victims of rape and alleged rape anonymity for life |
'Old friends' | 'Old friends' |
Hewitt was fined £405 and, like the other nine defendants, ordered to pay £624 compensation to the woman, who has since changed her name and left the Rhyl area. | Hewitt was fined £405 and, like the other nine defendants, ordered to pay £624 compensation to the woman, who has since changed her name and left the Rhyl area. |
She was also ordered to pay costs of £600 and a victim surcharge of £15. | She was also ordered to pay costs of £600 and a victim surcharge of £15. |
Prosecuting, Anna Pope said that on the day Evans was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court various posts appeared on Twitter and Facebook. | Prosecuting, Anna Pope said that on the day Evans was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court various posts appeared on Twitter and Facebook. |
Hewitt herself commented on Facebook: "I think she should be allowed to be named. Unbelievable." | Hewitt herself commented on Facebook: "I think she should be allowed to be named. Unbelievable." |
When interviewed, she said she and Evans were "old friends" but she did not know the victim. | When interviewed, she said she and Evans were "old friends" but she did not know the victim. |
"She accepted that her comments were inappropriate but did not know that what she had done was illegal," said Miss Pope. | "She accepted that her comments were inappropriate but did not know that what she had done was illegal," said Miss Pope. |
"She was sorry for any stress caused." | "She was sorry for any stress caused." |
Adam Antoszkics, defending, said Hewitt had initially denied the charge because of a question over whether comments sent only to friends on Facebook constituted public comments. | Adam Antoszkics, defending, said Hewitt had initially denied the charge because of a question over whether comments sent only to friends on Facebook constituted public comments. |
Having obtained clarification it was now clear that an offence had been committed, he said. | Having obtained clarification it was now clear that an offence had been committed, he said. |
District Judge Andrew Shaw, who previously sentenced the other two women and seven men who named the rape victim, said the only penalty open to him was a fine. | District Judge Andrew Shaw, who previously sentenced the other two women and seven men who named the rape victim, said the only penalty open to him was a fine. |
"You identified a victim of rape without considering the consequences and without a full understanding of exactly what you were doing," he told Hewitt. | "You identified a victim of rape without considering the consequences and without a full understanding of exactly what you were doing," he told Hewitt. |
In November, Evans lost his appeal against his rape conviction. | In November, Evans lost his appeal against his rape conviction. |
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