Footballer Ched Evans to face rape retrial after winning conviction appeal

Footballer Ched Evans has won his appeal against his conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman.

But Court of Appeal judges in London have ordered that he must face a fresh trial.

The decision was announced on Thursday following appeal proceedings last month.

The former Sheffield United striker and Welsh international was present in the packed London courtroom with girlfriend Natasha Massey by his side to hear the result of his conviction challenge.

Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison had heard submissions over two days from Kieran Vaughan QC, for Evans, and from Eleanor Laws QC, for the Crown.

Evans, now 27, was convicted in April 2012. He was found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping the woman at a hotel in Rhyl, North Wales.

His conviction was referred to the Court of Appeal for review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.