Ched evans’ retrial: will this case stop women reporting rape?

When footballer Ched Evans was found not guilty of raping a teenager earlier this month, the trial sparked outrage among some. Closer investigates the questions raised by the controversial case

Ched Evans’ C supporters hoped his acquittal two weeks ago would draw a line under the events which took place at a hotel in the early hours of 30 May 2011, when the footballer had sex with a drunk teenage girl.

Instead, the case sparked a furore – especially the decision to allow the jury to hear the girl’s sexual history and call previous partners as witnesses.

Evans had originally been found guilty in 2012 of raping the waitress, 19, in a hotel after a boozy night out with friends.

Evans, now 27, served half of his five-year prison sentence before his conviction was quashed on appeal in April – and two weeks ago he was cleared at a retrial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Dad-of-one Evans, who was in a relationship with fiancée Natasha Massey at the time of the alleged offence, always insisted his behaviour was “morally unacceptable but consensual.”

Evans’ friend, ex-port Vale player Clayton Mcdonald, had taken the woman – who he’d met in a kebab shop earlier that evening – to the hotel, where a receptionist recalled she seemed “very drunk and out of it.” Mcdonald had sex with her, before phoning Evans to tell him: “I’ve got a girl.” Evans arrived shortly after 4am and also had sex with the woman, while his halfbrother and a friend watched and filmed him through the window.

The woman claimed she’d had her drink spiked and couldn’t remember anything the following day. However, Evans always maintained the sex was consensual, and the jury acquitted him.

Evans’ fiancée was accused in court of an act “akin to bribery” after sending a text message appearing to offer a prosecution witness £50,000 but it was argued she’d done nothing wrong.

Despite Evans’ acquittal, the case has highlighted the “egotistical culture” of highly paid footballers. Evans was earning £20,000 a week playing for Sheffield Wednesday at the time of his arrest and could now return to top tier football. He may also sue for loss of earnings, which could amount to £500,000.

Women’s groups reacted with fury at the case as two of the alleged victim’s ex-lovers were allowed to give evidence. Another shocking aspect was the abuse the teenage accuser had suffered online and how her identity had been illegally revealed.

We speak to experts about the issues raised by the case around alcohol, consent and excess within the football world.