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Ched Evans: cheating on my girlfriend was unforgivable Ched Evans: cheating on my girlfriend was unforgivable
(about 5 hours later)
Convicted rapist Ched Evans has said he is “ashamed” of his actions, but expressed no remorse for his crime as he continues to protest his innocence.Convicted rapist Ched Evans has said he is “ashamed” of his actions, but expressed no remorse for his crime as he continues to protest his innocence.
The 25-year-old footballer, who was released from prison on Friday having served half of a five-year sentence for raping a woman in a hotel room, told the Sunday Mirror shortly before he was freed that cheating on his girlfriend was “unforgivable”. The 25-year-old footballer, who was released from prison on Friday having served half of a five-year sentence for raping a woman in a hotel room, told the Sunday Mirror in an interview conducted shortly before he was freed that cheating on his girlfriend was “unforgivable”.
But of the crime he was convicted of by a jury at Caernarfon crown court two years ago, he said: “It was something that should never have happened. I cheated on my girlfriend and had sex with this girl - but it was definitely consensual.”But of the crime he was convicted of by a jury at Caernarfon crown court two years ago, he said: “It was something that should never have happened. I cheated on my girlfriend and had sex with this girl - but it was definitely consensual.”
Spokeswoman for Rape Crisis charity Katie Russell told the paper the player’s words were harmful and insulting to his victim, for whom she said he had never shown any regard. Katie Russell, of the charity Rape Crisis, told the paper that the player’s words were harmful and insulting to his victim, for whom she said he shown no regard.
The former Sheffield United player’s release became a talking point last week as a debate raged over whether he should be allowed to return to football.The former Sheffield United player’s release became a talking point last week as a debate raged over whether he should be allowed to return to football.
Many Blades fans have called for Evans to be rehabilitated but almost 150,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Bramall Lane club not to welcome him back. Many Blades fans have called for Evans to be rehabilitated but almost 150,000 people have signed an online petition urging the League One club not to welcome him back.
TV presenter Judy Finnigan sparked controversy by claiming his crime was “non-violent” and did not cause “bodily harm” during a panel discussion on ITV’s Loose Women. The TV presenter Judy Finnigan sparked controversy by claiming his crime was “non-violent” and did not cause “bodily harm”, during a panel discussion on ITV’s Loose Women. Her comments caused a wave of criticism, abuse on social media and also sparked threats against her daughter.
Her comments caused a wave of criticism, abuse on social media and also sparked threats against her daughter. Evans was jailed for rape in April 2012 over an incident in Rhyl, north Wales, the previous year. The footballer admitted having sex with the woman, who 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.
Evans was jailed in April 2012 for the rape in Rhyl, north Wales. The footballer admitted having sex with the woman but she told the jury she had no memory of the incident. The Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of rape. An appeal against Evans’ conviction was rejected by three judges at the court of appeal in 2012. Evans’ case is due to be reviewed by the Criminal Cases 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. On Sunday Sheffield United said reports that the club had offered Evans a new contract were “false and damaging”. It said: “We have made a statement on this matter previously and the lack of credibility and substance from this latest media report does not warrant any expansion from previous comments apart from noting that we are continuing to deliberate on any long-term decision about Ched Evans.”
Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge. The TV presenter and Sheffield United patron Charlie Webster, who revealed in an interview this year that she had been sexually assaulted as a teenager, said she would quit her role with the club if they re-signed Evans. She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “You will have young people cheering him on when he scores a goal. Not under my name, under my club or community. He says he is innocent, he has shown no remorse.”
An appeal against Evans’ conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012. Evans’ case is due to be reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the coming weeks. Webster was branded a hypocrite by Evans’ sister Kylie, who retweeted a message that the sports presenter posted last month saying she wanted to get a photograph of the former heavyweight boxing champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson. Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 after an incident the previous year and subsequently served three years of a six-year sentence. Webster, 31, later said she was “not proud of” her Tyson tweet.
On Sunday Sheffield United said reports that the club had offered Evans a new contract were “false and damaging”. Evans’ girlfriend, Natasha Massey, has led a campaign to have Evans’ conviction overturned.
In a statement, the club dismissed the media coverage as “speculative”, adding: “An article in the Sun [on Saturday] that Sheffield United has offered a contract to former player Ched Evans is false and damaging to the club.
“We have made a statement on this matter previously and the lack of credibility and substance from this latest media report does not warrant any expansion from previous comments apart from noting that we are continuing to deliberate on any long-term decision about Ched Evans.”
The TV presenter and Sheffield United patron Charlie Webster, who revealed in an interview earlier this year she was sexually assaulted as a teenager, said she would quit her role with the club if they re-signed Evans.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “You will have young people cheering him on when he scores a goal. Not under my name, under my club or community. He says he is innocent, he has shown no remorse.”
Webster was immediately branded a “hypocrite” by Evans’ sister Kylie, who retweeted a message that the sports presenter posted last month saying she wanted to get a photograph of the former heavyweight boxing champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson.
Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 after an incident the previous year and subsequently served three years of a six-year sentence.
Webster, 31, later said she was now “not proud of” her Tyson tweet.
Evans’ girlfriend, Natasha Massey, has led a campaign to have his conviction overturned.