Ched Evans refused appeal against rape conviction

Judges also rejected Ched Evans's bid to cut his five-year jail sentence

Footballer Ched Evans has lost the right to appeal against his conviction for rape.

Evans was convicted in April of the rape of a 19-year-old woman at a Premier Inn in Rhyl, Denbighshire.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal sitting in London refused to give leave to appeal by the former Wales and Sheffield United striker.

The judges also threw out a bid by Evans originally from Rhyl, Denbighshire, to have his sentence cut.

Rejecting the conviction challenge by Evans, Lord Judge, said: "We can see no possible basis which would justify us interfering with the verdict of the jury, which heard all the evidence and reflected on it after careful summing up by the judge."

Evans was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court on 20 April for raping the woman in a Rhyl hotel room.

The footballer admitted having sex with her but the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury that she had no memory of the incident.

The prosecution argued that she was too drunk to consent.

Evans was convicted by a jury but his co-defendant, Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, 23, who also admitted having sex with the victim, was found not guilty.

Separate case

Following the conclusion of the trial, the victim was named by people between 20-22 April on Twitter and Facebook.

Ten appeared at Prestatyn magistrates on Monday where nine pleaded guilty to publishing material likely lead members of the public to identify the complainant in a rape case, contrary to the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

They were each told to pay £624 in damages to the woman.

A 10th defendant denied the charge. She was granted bail until 21 January.