Ched Evans’ accuser praised for her ‘courage’ in coming forward as it emerges she has been given a new identity and moved far from her home
THE woman at the centre of the rape trial against Ched Evans has a new identity and has moved far from her North Wales home, it has been revealed.
The Crown Prosecution Service thanked the woman for her "courage" during the case, saying that they respected the jury's decision after the footballer was found not guilty of rape.
Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales Ed Beltrami said: "We respect the decision of the jury today.
"This case hinged on the issue of sexual consent – that someone consents if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
"Being drunk does not mean a person relinquishes their right to consent, that they are to blame for being attacked or that they were 'fair game'."
It has since been revealed that the woman was given a new identity and moved from the North Wales area because of the abuse she had suffered.
Evans, a former Wales and Manchester forward, broke down in tears after being found not guilty after having sex with the teen waitress at a Premier Inn in May 2011.
CCP Beltrami said: "The prosecution argued that the complainant did not have the capacity to consent, but the jury found they could not be sure, beyond reasonable doubt, that the complainant did not consent, or that Evans thought she was not consenting.
"I would like to thank the complainant for her courage throughout this case, and the previous trial."
Superintendent Jo Williams, of North Wales Police, said: "We acknowledge the decision of the jury."
She added that they were aware that the complainant had been named on social media and that it is a criminal offence under Section Five of the Sexual Offences Amendments Act to do so.
She added: "An investigation is ongoing into the naming. People need to be aware that they could find themselves being arrested and prosecuted. This was done previously, people were prosecuted and heavily fined."
Ched Evans has been supported throughout the trial by his girlfriend, Natasha Massey, 27, who sent a Facebook message about a huge cash reward to the hotel receptionist.
The footballer hugged his partner after the verdict was read out at Cardiff Crown Court with the footballer having maintained he had sex with the waitress but that the act was consensual.
After the two-week retrial, the jury took just three hours to reach its verdict.
Ched was also publicly congratulated by his supporters after being found not guilty, with Stacey Flounders sharing a "team Ched" status after the jury's decision.
Evans could now get £500,000 in compensation after the rape conviction was squashed with the footballer having served half of a five-year sentence after being initially convicted in 2012.
CCTV footage of the player has also been released, with the player seen to be sneaking out of the fire escape after having sex with the waitress.
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