Ched Evans has thanked his fiancee for supporting him in his “darkest hour” after he was found not guilty of rape.
The Chesterfield footballer was today acquitted after a two week trial.
He had earlier been found guilty – and served two years in prison – for raping a 19-year-old woman in May 2011, before that conviction was quashed and a retrial was ordered.
Today, at Cardiff Crown Court, he was found not guilty after a jury deliberated for two hours.
After the verdict was read out, Evans broke down in tears as he was released from the dock and hugged his fiancee Natasha Massey, who was in the public gallery.
The couple then stood on the steps outside the court as Evans’ solicitor read out this statement on his behalf.
Solicitor Shaun Draycott reads Ched Evans' full statement after being found not guilty of rape https://t.co/IJG7VJkAtm
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 14, 2016
“In the early hours of the 30th of May 2011 an incident occurred in a hotel room in North Wales.
“It was to change my life and the lives of others forever.
“That did not involve the commission of a criminal offence and today I am overwhelmed with relief that the jury agreed.
“I would like to thank my legal team, Judy Khan QC, and David Emmanuel at Garden Courts Chambers, London, and Shaun Draycott of Draycott Browne Solicitors, Manchester, for their tireless efforts upon my behalf.
“Thanks go, too, to my friends and family, most notably, my fiancee Natasha who chose, perhaps incredibly, to support me in my darkest hour.
“While my innocence has been established I wholeheartedly apologise to anyone who might have been affected.”
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