[Omah]

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