WALES FOOTBALLER JAILED FOR RAPE IN CAERNARFON
Footballer Ched Evans, known as a striker for both Wales and Sheffield United, was convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison by Caernarfon Crown Court.The court heard that at the time of the assault on May 30, 2011, Evans was 23 years old and had a prior relationship with the victim.
She was extremely intoxicated during the incident, which the court described in detail.
Evans accepted having sex with her but insisted it was consensual.
The judge highlighted her level of intoxication and her inability to recall what transpired, raising concerns that her drinks could have been spiked.
The short length of the prison term was partly due to the absence of physical force and injuries, and because the act was not premeditated.
Throughout the trial, the victim explained she felt 'confused and dazed,' unable to remember how she ended up at the hotel, and she woke up in a double bed with her clothes scattered.
CCTV footage was shown to demonstrate her intoxication, and the judge remarked that Evans’ career was being affected by the conviction.
Evidence was also presented that Evans had organized a bank holiday night out with friends, and during the events, he observed his friend and the woman engaging in sexual activity, an incident some witnesses claimed to have seen through a window.
The court emphasized that the victim was not deliberately targeted and that no violent force was used, which influenced the relatively lenient sentence.
Evans was also visibly emotional as he faced sentencing in court.
