05/11/2012

Compensation For Woman Over Twitter Rape Comments

A woman who was raped by Wales footballer Ched Evans is to receive compensation from nine people after she was named on social networking sites.

Seven men and three women aged between 18 and 27 from north Wales and Sheffield have been ordered to pay £624 after revealing the victim’s identity.

Evans, a former Wales and Sheffield United player, was jailed for five years in April for raping the 19-year-old woman.

One of the women has denied the charge and was granted bail until 21 January.

The nine people who admitted the offence included the footballer’s cousin Gemma Thomas from Rhyl, his friend Craig McDonald, 26, from Prestatyn and 25-year-old biology school teacher Hollie Price from Prestatyn.

The victim was accused on Twitter and Facebook of "crying rape" and "money grabbing".

All nine were charged with actions contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992. They admitted their actions but said they were not aware what they had done was an offence.

Under UK law, victims and alleged victims of rape are granted lifelong anonymity.

The international footballer was jailed after raping a woman in a hotel room in Rhyl. Evans admitted having sex with the victim, but she told the jury she had no memory of the event.

The prosecution argued the woman was too drunk to consent.

Evans was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court on 20 April. The victim was then named by the nine people between 20-22 April on Twitter and Facebook.

(IT/GK)

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