Ched Evans, Sheffield United And Wales Footballer, Denies Raping Woman In Premier Inn

Wales Footballer Denies Raping 19-Year-Old

A footballer accused of raping a woman in a hotel today denied "using" her for his own "gratification".

Sheffield United and Wales striker Ched Evans, 23, and Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, also 23, deny the alleged attack on the 19-year-old at a North Wales hotel in May last year.

The woman told police she has no memory of the incident and the prosecution says she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Giving evidence at Caernarfon Crown Court, Evans, of Ashtree Gardens, Millhouse Green, Penistone, South Yorkshire, repeatedly denied accusations put to him by the prosecution that the girl was unconscious, semi-conscious or not in a state to consent to sex.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, said: "She was simply a girl that you and your friend ... you just used her for your own gratification."

"No, that's not right," said Evans, wearing a black suit, white shirt and tie.

Asked what condition the girl was in, he replied: "She was not very drunk. She had had a drink but she was not very drunk."

He said she was "in control".

Mr Philpotts accused Evans of leaving the hotel through an emergency exit, adding: "You left through that exit because you knew what you had done."

"No," Evans replied.

"And you didn't want to be seen going through reception."

"No," Evans said again.

Mr Philpotts asked: "What was the hurry to leave?"

Evans said: "Because I didn't want to be in the room in case my girlfriend rang me."

Previously the court heard that Evans, whose mother lives in Rhyl, had invited McDonald and others for a bank holiday night out in the seaside town on May 29.

Because there was not enough space at Evans's mother's house, the Sheffield United star had booked McDonald into a Premier Inn hotel nearby where the alleged rape is said to have taken place.

The court heard that McDonald met the woman and took her back to the room to have sex with her.

He then sent a text to Evans to say he had "got a bird" and was joined by Evans shortly afterwards.

Both men admit having sex with the woman but say it was consensual.

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