The family of rapist footballer Ched Evans yesterday lashed out after days of debate over whether he should be allowed to play again.
As Nick Clegg warned Sheffield United must ‘think really long and hard’ about welcoming back the 25-year-old, the family criticised the media, anti-rape campaigners and the organisers of a petition against his return.
Welsh international Evans was reportedly freed from jail today – halfway through a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old girl in his home town of Rhyl.
A silver 4x4 was seen pulling up outside Wymott Prison near Leyland in Lancashire just before 5am.
A man was seen getting into the back of the car which had blacked out windows and the vehicle left 'in a matter of seconds' according to a witness.
Earlier this week in a television appearance, Judy Finnigan said the footballer should be allowed to return to his job and described his attack as ‘not violent’.
But in a 600-word statement, the Evans family attacked the media for what they claimed was ‘sensationalist and often factually incorrect’ reporting of the case.
The statement, posted on a website set up to clear Evans’ name, said they had always sought to satisfy an ‘insatiable and hungry media society’ with interviews proclaiming his innocence.
But they complained resulting coverage ‘often has little or no resemblance to the full interview’ adding: ‘The media clearly have an agenda and have edited or cut to satisfy that agenda no matter what was said in the interview.’
ITV1’s This Morning was not specifically mentioned in the family’s statement, but Evans’ girlfriend Natasha Massey, whose millionaire father bankrolled the campaign, and his sister Kylie appeared on the programme in the wake of Miss Finnigan’s comments.
Miss Massey, who denies Evans was guilty of rape, was shown above the onscreen banner ‘I’m standing by my rapist boyfriend’.
The family also hit back at charity Rape Crisis, which had been critical of Miss Finnigan’s intervention.
‘The family have also tried to engage with Rape Crisis … but they have refused to engage in any way,’ the statement said.
‘These attempts were to see if there was any common ground where the family and the charity can help raise the awareness as to the issue of consent … rather than any sensible debate getting lost in the media hype.’
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An online petition, set up by a feminist campaigner with the pseudonym Jean Hatchet, has attracted 146,000 signatures calling on Sheffield United not to re-sign Evans.
It was branded by the family as an ‘anonymous spammed petition’.
‘Those who have signed it are of course entitled to their opinion but many have no idea of the facts of the case,’ the statement added.
‘Damagingly the media refer to them as “fans” but most signatories are not, they are members of the public … some have little or no knowledge of football, Ched, or the facts of the case.
‘Some have even contacted the family and apologised for signing the petition once they became aware of the facts.
‘Despite this the media are willing to give them a voice whilst ignoring any facts coming from those who know the full details of the case.’
A member of the Evans campaign is understood to have contacted the Sheffield branch of Rape Crisis, which declined to comment last night.
But staff at Rape Crisis South London – which runs the national helpline – said they were unaware of any contact and said there was little common ground.
A spokesman said: ‘We welcome the attention this week’s debate has given to the topic of consent, but as we fully support the law under which Ched Evans was convicted I don’t think his family would agree with us.’
Miss Finnigan’s remarks, made on Loose Women, sparked a furious online backlash, including threats to rape her daughter Chloe Madeley, 27.
The online abuse was yesterday condemned by Mr Clegg on his weekly LBC Radio phone-in.
‘Whatever you think of what Judy said, she has set out her views and clarified and so on,’ the Deputy Prime Minister said.
‘It is outrageous that people are being as menacing and vile towards Chloe in that way and there are powers that of course can lead to people being prosecuted if they are inciting violence or hatred towards another individual.’
Mr Clegg, whose constituency is in Sheffield, questioned whether Sheffield United should rehire Evans following his release.
The businessman has spent around £100million of his fortune propping up Sheffield United in the past two decades.
The 66-year-old comes from a working-class background and developed a global property business from scratch.
A qualified quantity surveyor, his personal fortune was put at £240million in 2007, but was hit by the financial crisis and is now estimated to be £90million.
The married father-of-two last year sold a 50 per cent stake in the club to Prince Abdullah. Ever willing to put the club before his own personal interests, the Sheffield tycoon was even reported to have written off £35million of loans his family had made to the club as part of the deal.
Mr McCabe is said to have joined manager Nigel Clough on a visit to Evans in prison earlier this year, but has not spoken publicly about the issue.
But there is little doubt that the co-owner’s overriding concern will be for the interests of ‘the Blades’ – languishing in League One – who he has supported since his youth.
Prince Abdullah
+14The co-chairman of Evans’ former club, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is understood to be firmly in favour of the convicted rapist returning to Sheffield United after his release.
Earlier this year it was reported that he had given ‘royal approval’ for Evans to make a comeback in the hope he would help rebuild the club.
But while the prince’s riches are estimated at £130million, the 49-year-old is anything but a stereotypical oil sheikh. The prince is not from a wealthy branch of the Saudi Arabian royal family, and built his company Saudi Paper from scratch.
He is seen as a moderniser in the deeply conservative kingdom and has spoken out for improved rights for women.
Last year he bought a 50 per cent stake in Sheffield United for just £1, promising to pump in a reported £20million.
He is understood to have no day-to-day involvement with the club, after being appointed to the Saudi government, but is represented on the board by others including his son.
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