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Where is Ched Evans now – prison release, retrial and return to football

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More than five years after having his rape conviction quashed, footballer Ched Evans remains active in the Football League.

The Welsh international striker had been playing for Sheffield United at the time of his initial conviction in 2012, but won an appeal in 2016. He had previously been released on licence after serving half of the five-year sentence handed down to him.

The 33-year-old returned to professional football in 2016 after the quashing of his conviction, initially with Chesterfield. However, it was not until October of that year – months after returning to the pitch – that he was acquitted following a retrial.

Evans was found not guilty of rape in a 2016 retrial
(
South Wales Echo)

In October 2016, Evans was found not guilty of raping a teenager in a hotel room in north Wales. The footballer had insisted the sex was consensual.

“We respect the decision of the jury today,” Ed Beltrami, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales, said at the time. “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’.

“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.”

Later, Evans would reach an out-of-court settlement with the lawyers who represented him in his first trial. The settlement, worth a reported £1m, was reached before a scheduled High Court date.

Evans was found not guilty in 2016
(
PA)

When Evans signed for Chesterfield in 2016, he told the club’s website: “I am very excited and privileged to be resuming my career at Chesterfield and I hope to make a valuable contribution both on and off the pitch for the football club, the fans and the community.” He scored on his debut for the club, but was not playing football at the time of his retrial after suffering an injury a month earlier.

In his final season before his original 2012 conviction, which was later quashed, he top-scored for Sheffield United as the club reached the League One play-off final. When he took on the Blades with his new club, he was given a standing ovation.

Chesterfield manager Danny Wilson, who was also in charge at Sheffield United in the 2011-12 season, focused on Evans’ on-pitch contributions after that particular game. “He’s a very good player, there is no doubt about it. And the fact he caused problems for their back three at any given moment of the game is testimony to his talent,” he said.

Chesterfield signed Evans before his retrial
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Getty Images)

Whilst trying to clear his name Evans – who had been released on licence – had begun exploring the prospect of a return to professional football. His former club, Sheffield United, had U-turned on a decision to let him train with the club in 2014, while interest from Oldham Athletic prompted a petition signed by more than 60,000 people, urging the Latics not to sign the former Manchester City youngster.

While Sheffield United changed their mind on Evans before the quashing of his conviction, things changed following his retrial. The Blades brought him back to Bramall Lane in 2017, when Chris Wilder was in charge of the club, but the second stint ended without the striker scoring a single competitive goal.

Evans returned to Sheffield United in 2017
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Action Images)

The Welshman continued to score goals at League One level, though. He hit double figures for Fleetwood Town in successive seasons, helping Joey Barton’s side reach the play-offs in 2020.

A reported spat with Barton would eventually see both player and manager leave Fleetwood. Evans then moved to Preston North End, initially on loan before making the move permanent.

After signing a short-term deal with the Lilywhites, Evans later extended his stay until 2023. There was a backlash towards the signing from a number of Preston fans, but Evans said : “with regards to football, and me as a Preston North End player, they will quickly get to know that I play with my heart on my sleeve and that I play every game like it’s my last”.

Evans has been with Preston since early 2021
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Getty Images)

“Hard work and effort deserves to be rewarded in my eyes and anyone who has seen what Ched has provided and produced since he arrived, will think it is deserved,” Frankie McAvoy, Preston’s interim boss at the time, said. “I am absolutely delighted for him and it is great news for Preston North End.

“We have a lot of young players in the dressing room and for the younger front players he is someone they can learn about the game from. He has had a good career in the game and credit to him.”

Evans has been in and out of a Preston North End side sitting mid table in the Championship this season, scoring two league goals over the course of the campaign.

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