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Sport

02nd Oct 2016

Ched Evans will not play club football for duration of second rape trial

His new trial begins this week.

Tom Victor

Welsh footballer Ched Evans will not turn out for club side Chesterfield for as long as his trial for rape goes on.

The 27-year-old was convicted of rape in April 2012 but saw his conviction quashed earlier this year.

Evans suffered a heel injury last month, and the Mirror reports that he will not return to the first team fold until after the conclusion of the trial, which begins on Tuesday October 4 and is expected to last two weeks.

Reasons for the new trial being ordered cannot be made public until the conclusion of proceedings, as per a statement made in court by Lady Justice Hallett.

‘Nothing can be reported that might prejudice the fairness of that re-trial. That means the contents of this statement may be reported and broadcast, in full, but nothing more about the appeal proceedings may be reported until the re-trial is concluded,’ the statement reads.

Evans signed for League One club Chesterfield in June, and has scored four times for the club in eight league and cup appearances.

The former Manchester City striker was released from prison in 2014, but had struggled to find a new club before his conviction was quashed and a new trial ordered.