Force cautions ten men who named rape accuser on social media
Ten men who revealed the identity of the woman at the centre of the Ched Evans rape case have been cautioned by North Wales Police (NWP).
Ten men who revealed the identity of the woman at the centre of the Ched Evans rape case have been cautioned by North Wales Police (NWP).
The former Welsh international was cleared of the sexual assault at a retrial in 2016 after being accused of attacking the woman in a hotel room in Denbighshire.
Following the retrial which resulted in Evans` conviction being quashed, NWP began an investigation after the woman`s name was revealed on social media.
Temporary Superintendent Jason Devonport said: This type of offence is fortunately rare, however Id like to emphasise all police forces take offences of this nature very seriously and we will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who dont respect victims anonymity.
The force confirmed that the men all admitted the offence and received cautions for publishing the name of the woman contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.
The woman has lifelong anonymity under the Act.
The ten men are aged between 16 and 23 and are from the Sheffield, Derbyshire and Birmingham areas.
In November 2012 following the initial trial nine people were made to pay compensation to the woman after they admitted naming her on Twitter and Facebook.
The Chesterfield striker had been accused of attacking her at a Premier Inn hotel near Rhyl in May 2011.
Mr Evans, 28, was originally found guilty of rape at Caernarfon Crown Court in 2012, and served half of a five-year prison sentence before being released.
The conviction was quashed in April 2016 after being referred to the Court of Appeal for review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and a retrial was ordered.
A retrial jury at Cardiff Crown Court in October 2016 found him not guilty of the offence six months later.
After the retrial, the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, suggested that the law could be changed to give greater protection to alleged rape victims following the Ched Evans case.
In a rare move, the jury in the retrial heard evidence from two men who had sex with the complainant around the time of the rape allegation.
The decision sparked concern that women will be put off reporting sex assaults to the police, and Northumbria police and crime commissioner Dame Vera Baird warned the case put Britain back probably about 30 years.
Mr Wright said the subject is of concern and suggested the law and guidance around the admission of a complainants sexual history in criminal trials could be reformed.
Mr Evans` former club Sheffield United announced this week it was to re-sign him.