Footballer Ched Evans' rape appeal date set for March 22

Evans, 27, was jailed for five years in 2012 after being found guilty of raping a 19 year-old woman at a hotel near Rhyl in North Wales.

He was released in October 2014 after serving half of his sentence.

A year later, following a ten-month investigation into the case, the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred it to the Court of Appeal, citing new information from Evans’ lawyers, which was not raised at trial.

When the decision was announced, CCRC chair Richard Foster said: ‘’The decision of the commission is not a judgment on guilt or innocence in relation to Ched Evans, nor is it a judgment about the honesty or integrity of the victim or any other person involved in the case.

“Our role is to consider applications to see if, in our judgment, there is any basis on which to ask the court to hear a fresh appeal - that is our statutory responsibility.

“In this case we have identified new material which was not considered by the jury at trial and which, in our view, might have assisted the defence.

“In those circumstances, it is right and proper for the matter to be before the court so that they can decide whether or not the new information should affect the verdict in this case.”

Evans previously lost his case at the Court of Appeal in 2012. The new hearing will take place on March 22.

He has always maintained his innocence. But his attempts to restart his career Sheffield United and then Oldham Athletic were dashed after a public outcry.