Rape-trial denial of ‘using’ girl

Sheffield United and Wales striker Ched Evans, 23, and Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, also 23, deny the alleged attack on the 19-year-old at a North Wales hotel in May last year.

The woman told police she had no memory of the incident and the prosecution says she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Giving evidence at Caernarfon Crown Court, Evans, of Ashtree Gardens, Millhouse Green, Penistone, South Yorkshire, repeatedly denied accusations put to him by the prosecution that the girl was unconscious, semi-conscious or not in a state to consent to sex.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, said: “She was simply a girl that you and your friend ... you just used her for your own gratification.”

“No, that’s not right,” said Evans.

Asked what condition the girl was in, he replied: “She was not very drunk. She had had a drink but she was not very drunk.”

He said she was “in control”.

Mr Philpotts accused Evans of leaving the hotel through an emergency exit, adding: “You left through that exit because you knew what you had done.”

“No,” Evans replied.

“And you didn’t want to be seen going through reception.”

“No,” Evans said again.

Mr Philpotts asked: “What was the hurry to leave?”

Evans said: “Because I didn’t want to be in the room in case my girlfriend rang me.”

Previously the court heard that Evans, whose mother lives in Rhyl, had invited McDonald and others for a bank holiday night out in the seaside town on May 29.

Because there was not enough space at Evans’s mother’s house, the Sheffield United star had booked McDonald into a Premier Inn hotel nearby where the alleged rape is said to have taken place.

The court heard that McDonald met the woman and took her back to the room to have sex with her.

He then sent a text to Evans to say he had “got a bird” and was joined by Evans shortly afterwards.

Both men admit having sex with the woman but say it was consensual.

Evans told the court that he wanted to go back to the room and tell McDonald that one of their friends had been arrested and to see if he knew the girl, as he was a “local lad”.

He admitted “deceiving” the receptionist to get the key card to the room and then letting himself in and seeing McDonald having sex with the girl.

He said they realised he was there when the door “made a clunking noise” behind him.

Evans told the court he watched them having sex for about “10/20 seconds” and then McDonald “asked” if his mate could “get involved”.

“Then she looked at me and said yes,” Evans said.

The footballer then said he carried on watching “for a minute or two” before McDonald got up to close the bedroom curtains, as there was “giggling” from the window, where Evans’ brother and a friend were trying to watch from.

Evans said the girl asked him for sex and McDonald “watched for a bit” before leaving.

“As he left the room we stopped having sex,” Evans told the jury.

Mr Philpotts then asked Evans if he and McDonald “forced that young lady” into having sex.

He replied: “No.”

“Was she conscious?”

“Yes,” he said.

Evans said he got dressed after McDonald left the room and the girl pulled the quilt over herself.

The first he heard about the accusations was a text message from his mother on the following Tuesday.

Mr Philpotts asked the footballer why he chose to leave the hotel room which he had paid £99 for and walk home.

Evans said it was because the room had not been booked for him.

The court has heard McDonald and Evans were childhood friends and were part of the Manchester City youth academy.