by Our Sports Desk

Ched Evans’s conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman will be a looked at again by judges after the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said yesterday that new evidence had emerged.

The commission has referred the case to the Court of Appeal saying the new information could have supported Evans’s defence and adding that there is “a real possibility that the Court of Appeal may now quash the conviction.”

He was found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping the woman at a hotel in Rhyl in 2011.

Evans was released from prison last year after only serving half of his five-year sentence, which led to widespread outrage from various protesters as he attempted to get back into football.

His attempts to join Oldham and train with Sheffield United were thwarted by huge protests against the clubs, including a petition signed by 50,000 people.

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 has appealed to the Court of Appeal before but the move was rejected by three judges in 2012.

The court is now obliged to hear the fresh appeal following the CCRC’s referral, with no need for an application for leave.

In its statement, the commission said: “The referral is made on the basis of new information which was not raised at trial and, which in the view of the Commission, could have added support to Mr Evans’s defence at trial and therefore raises a real possibility that the Court of Appeal may now quash the conviction.”

The CCRC said it was very aware of the impact its decisions can have for victims of crimes and stressed the anonymity guaranteed by law for the victim in this case.

It said: “We have been particularly mindful of the targeted abuse suffered by the victim in this case and have sought to act accordingly.”