London: Wales and Sheffield United striker Ched Evans has been handed a five year jail sentence for raping a teenage girl, who was too drunk to consent to sex, as two of his pals witnessed and tried to film it on a mobile phone.
Evans was found culpable of raping the then 19 year-old at a hotel after spending a night out in Rhyl, north Wales, last May.
Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald was the other accused in this matter, but was not found guilty of the same charge.
The court heard that both footballers agreed they had sex with the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, but the prosecution said she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.
In her evidence to police, the woman said she has no memory of the incident and believes her drink may have been spiked.
The jury first returned a not-guilty verdict on McDonald after four hours and 52 minutes of deliberations.
The jury foreman gave the guilty verdict against Evans, as he threw the headphones he was using to follow the trial on the floor, and looked stunned.
"Ched Evans is shocked and extremely disappointed with the decision reached today by the jury at Caernarfon Crown Court to convict him of the charge brought against him," The Telegraph quoted a statement from Evan`s lawyers, as saying.
"Mr Evans firmly maintains his innocence in this matter and is being advised regarding an appeal of the decision," the statement added.
ANI
First Published: Saturday, April 21, 2012, 20:48