Ched Evans: Nine fined for naming rape victim on social media

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-20207408

Nine people have each been told to pay £624 to a woman raped by footballer Ched Evans after they admitted naming her on Twitter and Facebook.

The former Sheffield United and Wales striker was jailed for five years in April for raping the 19-year-old.

Seven men and three women, aged between 18 and 27 and from north Wales and Sheffield have been accused of revealing the victim's identity.

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

Among the nine who admitted the offence at Prestatyn magistrates' court were Evans's cousin Gemma Thomas from Rhyl, the footballer's friend Craig McDonald, 26, from Prestatyn and 25-year-old biology school teacher Hollie Price from Prestatyn.

The other defendants to plead guilty were Michael Ashton, 21, from Llanddulas; Benjamin Davies, 27, from Rhyl; David Cardwell, 25, from Sheffield; Paul Devine, 26, from Sheffield; Dominic Green, 23, from Rhyl; and Shaun Littler, 22, from Sheffield.

They were all charged with publishing material likely lead members of the public to identify the complainant in a rape case, contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

Magistrates heard the victim was accused of "crying rape" and "money-grabbing" on the social networks.

The nine who pleaded guilty claimed that they were not aware that naming her was a criminal offence.

The law gives the victims and alleged victims of rape and other sexual offences lifelong anonymity.

NB : Ignorance of the law is no defence. All nine of those who pleaded guilty today claimed they didn't know that naming a rape victim was itself a crime.

In criminal cases, you hit the keys of your phone or pc at your peril.

:pipe:

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20219573

Evans was convicted in April of the rape of a 19-year-old woman at a Premier Inn in Rhyl, Denbighshire.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal sitting in London refused to give leave to appeal by the former Wales and Sheffield United striker.

The judges also threw out a bid by Evans originally from Rhyl, Denbighshire, to have his sentence cut.

Rejecting the conviction challenge by Evans, Lord Judge, said: "We can see no possible basis which would justify us interfering with the verdict of the jury, which heard all the evidence and reflected on it after careful summing up by the judge."

Evans was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court on 20 April for raping the woman in a Rhyl hotel room.

The footballer admitted having sex with her but the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury that she had no memory of the incident.

The prosecution argued that she was too drunk to consent.

Bang 'im up ..... :pipe:

[Mystic Mock]

I can't believe they are so disgusting to do that tbh, how would they like it if it was there Sister, Daughter, or friend that had been raped but some idiots decided to name the person anyway?