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Ched Evans leaves prison after serving rape sentence Ched Evans to make a video statement
(about 4 hours later)
Welsh international footballer Ched Evans is believed to have left prison after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel. Footballer Ched Evans is to give a video statement next week after being released from jail after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel.
A silver 4x4 was seen pulling up outside Wymott prison near Leyland in Lancashire just before 5am on Friday. A statement on his website said: “Next week Ched will make a very personal and profound statement by video which will be on his site and available for use by the media should they choose to do so. Ched is now adjusting to normal life after serving a sentence for a crime consistently denied.
A man was seen getting into the back of the car, which had blacked out windows, and the vehicle left “in a matter of seconds”, according to a witness. “Whilst we understand the media interest, we would respectfully request some privacy over the next few weeks. Ched would like to thank prior to the video statement, the thousands of people from all walks of life who have supported him and believe in him.”
Evans was jailed in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales. Evans left Wymott Prison, near Leyland, Lancashire, in a silver Mercedes 4x4 just before 5am on Friday.
The opposition Labour sport spokesman, Clive Efford, said it was “not appropriate” for Evans to return to professional football after his release. In statement posted on his website, his family and girlfriend Natasha Massey confirmed his release and said they are determined to overturn his conviction.
Efford told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think there are many areas of employment where, when you’ve committed a crime like that, you are not allowed to be employed in that form of employment, and I think football is one of them, because you are a role model within a community. The statement said: “Today at 5am he was released from custody and will continue the fight to clear his name.
“I know this is sad for Ched Evans, who’s been to prison and paid a price, but I think that in these circumstances it’s not appropriate to have someone with that record in a profession where you are idolised by young people.” “Chedwyn Evans maintains his absolute innocence and his family, friends and many who know the true facts of the case believe that his conviction was a gross miscarriage of justice.”
The Welsh international striker was jailed in April 2012 for raping the woman in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales.
The 25-year-old striker’s release will pile more pressure on his former club, Sheffield United, to say whether he will be allowed to play for them again.The 25-year-old striker’s release will pile more pressure on his former club, Sheffield United, to say whether he will be allowed to play for them again.
Many Blades fans have called for him to be rehabilitated, but almost 150,000 people have signed an online petition urging the League One club not to welcome him back. Many Blades fans have called for him to be rehabilitated, but almost 150,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Bramall Lane club not to welcome him back.
The footballer denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon crown court. He admitted having sex with her, but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident. The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse. A man, believed to be Evans, was seen getting into the back of the Mercedes, which had blacked-out windows, and the vehicle left in a matter of seconds.
Another footballer, Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge. The 25-year-old denied raping the woman but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon crown court.
An appeal against Evans’s conviction was rejected by three judges at the court of appeal in 2012. His girlfriend, Natasha Massey, has led a campaign to have the conviction overturned. He admitted having sex with her, but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident.
Evans’s case is due to be looked at by the criminal case review commission in the coming weeks. The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.
Massey reiterated her support for her partner in a TV interview earlier this week. Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge.
She told ITV’s This Morning that she put her feelings about his cheating to one side to support him through his trial and prison and she said she had visited him every week in prison. An appeal against Evans’s conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012.
Massey said Evans hoped to play professional football again. Massey has led a campaign to have the conviction overturned and the case is due to be looked at by the Criminal Case Review Commission in the coming weeks.
Her comments came after TV presenter Judy Finnigan said on the ITV show Loose Women that the 25-year-old’s crime was “not violent” and did not cause “bodily harm”. Finnigan later apologised for the remarks. She has reiterated her support for her partner, telling ITV’s This Morning that she put her feelings about his cheating to one side to support him through his trial and prison and said she has visited him every week in jail.
Massey said Evans hopes to play professional football again.
Sheffield United have refused to say whether they will allow Evans to play again.Sheffield United have refused to say whether they will allow Evans to play again.
Earlier this week, the manager, Nigel Clough, said: “We have had one or two discussions, we are awaiting a decision and the owners will make that in good time.” Manager Nigel Clough has said: “We have had one or two discussions; we are awaiting a decision and the owners will make that in good time.” Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said the owners of Sheffield United should “think really long and hard” before deciding whether to allow Evans back.
On Thursday, the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said the club’s owners should “think really long and hard” before deciding whether to allow Evans back. Clegg said footballers were role models to youngsters and that should “weigh heavily” on the club’s owners.
Clegg, who is MP for Sheffield Hallam, said footballers were role models to youngsters and that should “weigh heavily” on the club. Sheffield Hallam Lib Dem MP Mr Clegg said: “I don’t think it’s right for politicians to tell football clubs what they will do and who they employ. All I’m saying is I think football players these days, they get paid a lot of money, they are public figures and you can’t ignore that.”
Clegg said: “I don’t think it’s right for politicians to tell football clubs what they will do and who they employ. All I’m saying is I think football players these days, they get paid a lot of money, they are public figures and you can’t ignore that.” Richard Caborn, a former sports minister and a Sheffield United fan, said Evans should be allowed back only if he shows remorse and says sorry.
Richard Caborn, the former sports minister and a United fan, said Evans should be allowed back only if he shows remorse and says sorry. Labour sports spokesman Clive Efford said it was “not appropriate” for Evans to return to professional football after his release.
Evans scored 48 goals in 113 games for the Blades before his imprisonment, including 35 in 42 games during the 2011-12 campaign, which was cut short for him due to his trial and conviction. Mr Efford told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I think there are many areas of employment where, when you’ve committed a crime like that, you are not allowed to be employed in that form of employment, and I think football is one of them, because you are a role model within a community.
“I know this is sad for Ched Evans, who’s been to prison and paid a price, but I think that in these circumstances it’s not appropriate to have someone with that record in a profession where you are idolised by young people.”
Evans scored 48 goals in 113 games for the Blades before his imprisonment, including 35 in 42 games during the 2011/12 campaign which was cut short for him due to his trial and conviction.
He has been capped 13 times for Wales.He has been capped 13 times for Wales.