Crown Prosecution Service issues statement after Ched Evans cleared of rape

Footballer Ched Evans and partner Natasha Massey with solicitor Shaun Draycott (right) outside Cardiff Crown Court, where Evans has been found not guilty of raping a teenager in a hotel in north Wales following a two week retrial. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday October 14, 2016. See PA story COURTS Evans. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Ched was acquitted of raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in north Wales, after a two-week retrial.

This afternoon, the CPS, which is responsible for the administration of court cases, released a statement about the case.

Ed Beltrami, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales said:

“We respect the decision of the jury today. This case hinged on the issue of sexual consent – that someone consents if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. Being drunk does not mean a person relinquishes their right to consent, that they are to blame for being attacked or that they were ‘fair game’.

“The prosecution argued that the complainant did not have the capacity to consent, but the jury found they could not be sure, beyond reasonable doubt, that the complainant did not consent, or that Evans thought she was not consenting.

“I would like to thank the complainant for her courage throughout this case, and the previous trial.”