Nine more arrested over Ched Evans rape victim tweets
Five men and four women, all from north Wales, were arrested and are in custody for questioning at St Asaph police station, North Wales Police said.
It brings the total number of arrests to 12 after three men were arrested in South Yorkshire last week and later released on bail.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThose held today have been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication or under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Amendments Act, or on suspicion of both offences, the force said.
A spokesman added: “North Wales Police have arrested nine more people as part of their investigation into the recent naming of a rape victim on social media sites.
“Three men and three women, from the Rhyl, Prestatyn and Llanddulas areas of North Wales, were arrested in early-morning raids today and are being held at St Asaph police station.
“Later in the morning another woman was arrested in Broughton, Flintshire, and a man was arrested in Colwyn Bay.
“A fifth man was arrested in Abergele at lunchtime today.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Three men arrested in South Yorkshire last week, two under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Amendments Act and another male on suspicion of malicious communication, have been released on bail.”
Evans was jailed for five years at Caernarfon Crown Court on April 20 for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room.
He denied the allegation and plans to appeal against the verdict.
Following the conclusion of the trial, the victim of the rape was allegedly named and subjected to abuse on Twitter and other websites.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNorth Wales Police described the online comments as “profoundly disturbing” and said they contributed to the young woman’s “continued trauma”.
Rape and other sexual assault victims are guaranteed the legal right to lifetime anonymity.
Detective Sergeant Bob Halford, of North Wales Police, said today: “We continue to be proactive in this investigation and anticipate that further arrests will be made in the near future.”
Wales international Evans, 23, admitted having sex with the victim, then aged 19, at a hotel in North Wales last May.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn her evidence, the woman said she had no memory of the incident and the prosecution argued she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.
Evans’s co-accused, Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, 23, who also admitted having sex with the victim, was found not guilty.
Sheffield United defender Connor Brown was suspended by the club for comments he allegedly made on Twitter following the trial.