It'll be interesting to see what their sponsors/MP have to say, but it was always likely someone would come in for him. Other offenders have been given a chance and he's done his time...
Totally missed the Ched Evens thing. So he rapped a girl went to jail and now he is out. Is that right
Seems so. He had a five year sentence which he served around two and half years of, and he's been out since October. He obviously did a terrible thing, but then according to the law he has been duly punished, and is now a free man. So he should have a chance to continue his life, as would anyone else who works in a normal, low profile profession.
This is complicated by the fact he has stated that he did not rape her...and so will not apologise. Two were charged....and his mate got off....but he didn't. They both say it that consent was given....and the CCTV footage...shows nothing that would disprove that...and she took over 24hrs to complain to the police. It is a very tricky one. All parties seemed to have behaved like animals....but it is not clear if it is rape...imho. But regardless he has served his time....so the real question is....can he return to his trade or profession? He seems to want to regardless of the baying fans he will encounter.....but I cannot see how it would work for him or the team he plays for. So in theory, I think he should be allowed to but in practice I do not think it can happen
Good post, Vern. When he started training again with Sheffield United many commentators on the subject focussed on the fact that he'd never acknowledged and repented his crime. As you have said, he has always professed his innocence. Of course prisons are full of people that claim their innocence, but if he actually believes this then why should he say otherwise? Rape, however, like child murder etc., is one of those crimes where society says you're guilty unless proven otherwise (i.e. the other way around) and even then the mud has stuck. Even if the perpetrator has done his time there is little acceptance that justice has been done and the slate is clean. I have no idea whether Evans is guilty or not, nor any particular axe to grind in this specific case. As you have said, all parties to it are relatively unsavoury. I can understand why fans wouldn't want this guy at their club, but also find myself asking why a man who believes himself to be innocent should be denied the opportunity to return to his trade after he has served his time. Perhaps the issue lies with the duration of the sentence and not the individual? BTW, doesn't Oldham have a previous on this sort of thing?
OK, first thing first .............. I think Beth has it well covered with her comments so I won't add anything there. What l will say is regardless of the crime, he has supposedly served his time so why can't he return to his former trade / profession? The way the media are sticking it into him, what chance has he got to get a legal job. Do they want him to turn to crime to earn a living? I'm thinking, if a club, regardless of where it is in the world, offer him a position, he should be entitled to take and be given that opportunity. Not be hounded by the media night and day .................. that will send him only one way. We all stuff up, some more than others. If he is genuine about turning over a new leaf, he should be allowed to try. Rant over. Aussie QC
In law, he was guilty. In law, he has served his time. His continuing his profession brings no danger to the public, of course he should be allowed to be a footballer. For my part, despite the Court ruling, from what I understand of his case, I do not think, had I been a juror, I would have convicted him. Still, there seems to be an appetite to pander endlessly to both the PC brigade and the hypocritical media and I suspect Mr Evans' career as a footballer is probably finished. I also understand he is seeking to appeal his conviction, I hope that should he be successful in so doing, Ms Ennis (et-al) are as quick to publicly apologise as they have been vociferous in condemning.
Petition against him signing. https://www.change.org/p/simon-corn...-athletic-fc-refuse-to-sign-rapist-ched-evans Signed by more than 20.000. Paul Smith @Smudge1962 The petition has been set up by @JeanHatchet whose original one against Evans joining Sheffield United attracted over 160,000 signatures.
I came across the web site set up by his sister when it was all over the BBC he was being let out. I can't remember all the details now as it was a while ago, but is did strike me as a very unsafe conviction. I do remember something about the alleged victim deleting e mails, facebook messages and tweets, all creating a gap in the records just for the time the incident happened. I find that extremely worrying behaviour. Edit: Just wanted to add that even the courts are looking into his conviction again and fast tracking the investigation too. They don't care if he's a footballer or not, so the fact it's being fast tracked tells you something too. As many on here have already said, he has served his time.
He hasn't served his time. He served 2.5 years of a 5 year sentence, and is out under licence/parole/probabtion whatever. He is on the sex offenders register. He could not be appointed a director of any of the football clubs who may want to employ him, nor could he work in many other professions, by law. I have no idea whether his attempts to clear his name have merit or not. I do think that this is a very sordid episode with no one involved, including the 'victim', coming out with any credit. Guilty or not, he and his associates strike me as pond life. I understand all the stuff about him having the right to play, fine, but I know I wouldn't want him at my club. May make me a hypocrite, so be it.
OK, he is appealing his conviction. But while he has this conviction and is unrepentant, I would not want him at our club, seeing youngsters with his name on the back of their shirt etc. The reputation of any club that takes him will sink in the eyes of many - but frankly, most sponsors will step in to stop it happening.
I agree no one has come out of it with any credit, and I would also agree that it brings his character into question. I certainly don't see you as a hypocrite as I don't think I'd want him at rangers either. Unless we can both be hypocrites together. I was just thinking that the law is the law and if the law has no problem with him returning to work, then he should be able to. As much as I think the law's an ass on many occasions, I do believe in one set of laws for us all. (That's what pisses me off with the current political class. They seem to think they can live by different rules.)
Quite right. What I meant was - appeal or not, while he has the conviction and is unrepentant, I wouldn't consider him. The appeal does put him into limbo. He'll have to live with that until it's heard. If he succeeds, then his life as it was before this regrettable incident should resume so far as that is possible. If he fails, go find a job where he's not high profile and a role model.
I may be wrong here but the conviction is being reviewed by a completely different system than him appealing. I believe it is something to do with unsafe convictions an not just straight up appeals. I'll see if I can look it up. I do agree he is in limbo till it's heard. Still wouldn't want him on character grounds even if the conviction is overturned.
