Ched Evans out and about with his fiancée and baby son as he awaits rape re-trial

FORMER Premier League footballer Ched Evans has been snapped with his fiancée and baby son as he awaits a date for his new rape trial.

The 27-year old ex Sheffield United player was spotted shopping in Manchester with lover Natasha Massey and their three-month-old child on Thursday evening.

Evans had his conviction for rape quashed at the Court of Appeal in London last month.

He now faces a retrial – and a hearing to make trial arrangements will be held next week.

Evans recently thanked long-term partner Natasha for standing by him after he was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in 2012.

The ex-player shared a statement thanking Natasha for her “unconditional love, belief and support.”

The statement read: “We all welcome today’s decision by the Court of Appeal… However, there are no winners and no celebration.

“Ched would like to place on record his thanks to the judiciary for carrying out a detailed process, repaying his faith in the legal system.”

The striker was originally convicted in April 2012 of raping the woman at a Premier Inn near Rhyl, Denbighshire.

But his conviction was overturned on April 21.

Speaking on the case, Lady Justice Hallett said she and her fellow judges had been made privy to “fresh evidence” during Evans’ appeal hearing on March 22 and 23.

Evans – who denied his guilt – was released from jail in October 2014 after serving just half of his five-year sentence.

At the trial, Evans maintained he had consensual sex with the alleged victim after a night out on the town.

But the prosecution insisted the woman – who cannot be named – was too drunk to give her consent to sexual intercourse on the night of the incident.

Evans’ case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice in Wales, England and Northern Ireland.

He has not been signed by a new club since his release from prison.

The former ace was congratulated for the quashed conviction by disgraced football star Adam Johnson’s sister, who was jailed last month for sexually touching a minor.

Faye Johnson tweeted a hands clapping emoji next to news of the appeal.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368