Footballers avoid gang rape charges

TWO Premiership footballers questioned over an alleged “gang rape” of a 17-year-old girl will not be charged, it was reported yesterday.

The lawyer for players Titus Bramble and Carlton Cole was unable to confirm the development, but said he believed police would be in touch relatively soon.

According to The Sun newspaper, the Crown Prosecution Service has decided there is insufficient evidence to prove the teenage girl did not consent to sex with Bramble and Cole, and two other men.

Graham Shear, who represents Bramble and Cole, said. "We have no knowledge of this.

"We don't know when the police will be contacting us. We anticipate it will be relatively soon."

A CPS spokesman said that the reviewing process was still under way.

"We haven't given our advice to the police. The time frame we have is up to the 14th the next bail hearing."

The alleged attack was said to have taken place in September at the exclusive Grosvenor House Hotel in central London.

Scotland Yard launched an investigation into the claim and interviewed Newcastle United defender Bramble, aged 22, and Chelsea striker Cole, aged 19, who is currently on loan to Charlton Athletic.

The players and two other men party organiser Nicholas Meikle, aged 29, and his friend, Jason Edwards, aged 26 were due to answer bail next week.

The Sun reported that they will be officially informed by the CPS today that the case was being dropped.