Jessica Ennis-Hill received rape threats on Twitter yesterday after she had warned Sheffield United not to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Ennis-Hill told the club she would want her name removed from the stand named after her at Bramall Lane should the striker return to the club as a player.

The athlete is among a number of people who have spoken out publicly over the issue which has seen Evans back at the club this week to train.

Regarding the sick tweets, South Yorkshire Police said: “South Yorkshire Police can confirm they are investigating reports of abusive tweets.

“Officers are making efforts to contact the individual concerned, but have launched an investigation into the posts.”

The severity of the issue has seen calls for guidelines to be put in place by the FA.

The Football League issued a statement yesterday that they were looking into whether or not to bring in a rule which dictates whether a criminal can be registered by a club as well as looking at how they could help clubs handle the process of dealing with convicted players.

A Football League spokesman said: “While we fully understand the gravity of the offence in question in this particular case, we also recognise that there is a value to wider society in enabling offenders to be rehabilitated through a return to their chosen line of employment.

“Equally, however, it is important never to lose sight of the effect that crime has on its victims.”

The club released a statement on Wednesday saying that it was the choice of the Player’s Football Association to allow Evans to train with the club and that they have made no decision regarding whether or not the striker will be offered a playing contract.

But they feel the public outcry over the situation was nothing more than “mob justice.”

On Thursday, Evans was told he “cannot go back” to his job as a footballer until he apologises for what he did at the very least.

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones believes that until the Welsh striker shows remorse for his actions, he should not be allowed to return to such a privileged job.

He said: “What does it mean for her to see him back in a job where he will earn a lot of money after being a convicted rapist?

“If you are a role model and you are convicted of a serious offence such as rape, and you don’t apologise at the very least, you don’t say you accept that you committed a serious offence, you can’t go back to a job like football.”

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, a former probation officer, said: “I think there is a danger of sending a message to young people who look at footballers as role models, there is a danger that we send a message that rape isn’t a serious offence.”