Ched Evans rape victim 'named and abused online'

Police are investigating reports that a woman raped by footballer Ched Evans has been named and abused on a social networking site.

It follows a complaint by a leading rape charity which said the alleged comments on Twitter were "disturbing".

Sheffield United and Wales striker Evans, 23, was jailed for five years on Friday for raping a 19-year-old woman.

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said it was "collating all relevant information".

She said: "We are aware of some comments made on social media sites and we are collating all relevant information."

Victims of rape and other sexual assaults are guaranteed the right to lifetime anonymity.

Holly Dustin, director of the End Violence Against Women coalition, and Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: "It is profoundly disturbing that the victim in the Ched Evans trial has been named and abused on Twitter and other social media sites.

"It has long been law that rape complainants are protected by lifetime anonymity and those who have named her have been reported to the police for committing a criminal offence.

"This raises serious questions about the adequacy of the criminal justice system to deal with offences that occur online and we are calling for an urgent review of laws and practices."

Evans admitted having sex with the victim at a hotel in north Wales last May.

The woman said she had no memory of the incident and the prosecution successfully argued she was too drunk to consent to intercourse.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, 23, who also admitted having sex with the victim, was found not guilty.

Ms Dustin added: "We want to see football clubs and the Football Association take a strong stance against sexism in the sport.

"We also want the government to take concerted action to address attitudes that condone violence.

"This must include ongoing public campaigns to challenge rape myths, work with young people in schools as well as action to tackle sexism online and in our daily newspapers.

"We cannot afford to shrug our shoulders any longer and hope that this problem will go away."