FORMER SHEFFIELD UNITED footballer Ched Evans has won his appeal against his conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman and now faces a retrial.

The 27-year-old has spent two-and-a-half years in prison following his conviction in 2012.

However, in March his case was sent to the British Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice

Today, three appeal judges quashed the conviction after fresh evidence emerged.

Details of the grounds of appeal can not be reported for legal reasons.

Judge Heather Hallett said: “In summary, we have concluded that we must allow the appeal and that it is in the interests of justice to order a retrial.”

The court declared: “The appellant will be retried on the allegation of rape.” A fresh indictment against Evans was ordered to be served within two months.

Evans, whose former clubs include Manchester City and Sheffield United, was in court to hear the verdict announced along with his girlfriend, Natasha Massey.

After the ruling, Evans’s lawyer read a statement outside the court in which he said his client was “extremely grateful” to the judges for quashing his conviction.

Additional reporting via AFP.

Comments have been closed on this article as it involves an on-going criminal case.