Footballer Ched Evans has been found not guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room. The Chesterfield striker was accused of attacking her at a Premier Inn in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, on 30 May 2011.
Mr Evans, 27, was originally found guilty of rape at Caernarfon Crown Court in 2012, but this conviction was quashed in April. He was found not guilty of the same charge at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday.
In a statement read out on Mr Evans's behalf after the verdict, the footballer said: "In the early hours of 30 May 2011, an incident occurred in north Wales that was to change my life and the lives of others forever. That incident did not involve the commission of a criminal offence and today I am overwhelmed with relief that the jury agreed.
"I would like to thank my legal team... for their tireless efforts upon my behalf.
"Thanks go, too, to my friends and family; most notably my fiancee, Natasha, who chose, perhaps incredibly, to support me in my darkest hour.
"Whilst my innocence has now been established, I wish to make it clear that I wholeheartedly apologise to anyone who might have been affected by the events of the night in question."
Soon after the verdict the woman was named on social media, which is prohibited under law as complainants of sexual offences are guaranteed lifelong anonymity. Supt Jo Williams from North Wales Police said: "People need to be aware that they could find themselves being arrested and prosecuted. This was done previously, people were prosecuted and heavily fined."
A jury of seven women and five men took just two hours to clear him following a two-week trial.
There were gasps and cries in the public gallery when the verdict was read out, with members of Mr Evans's group breaking down.
Mr Evans, a former Wales international who was capped 13 times, was discharged from the dock and embraced Miss Massey.
He always denied having sex with the woman while she was too drunk to consent.
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| Ched Evans leaves Court with his fiancee Natasha Massey |
He insisted she agreed to let him "join in" while she was having consensual sex with fellow footballer Clayton McDonald, 27 - who was cleared of rape at the original trial - after a night out in Rhyl.
His legal team argued the case was "built around the myth" the complainant was too drunk to agree to sex. The prosecution alleged the woman did "not have the freedom or capacity to consent".
They said Mr Evans treated her with a "callous, self-centred indifference essentially indistinguishable from utter contempt". However, the jury cleared Mr Evans of the single charge after retiring to deliberate at about 11:40 GMT on Friday.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it respected the jury's decision and thanked the complainant for her "courage" in giving evidence.
Ed Beltrami, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "The prosecution argued that the complainant did not have the capacity to consent, but the jury found they could not be sure, beyond reasonable doubt, that the complainant did not consent, or that Evans thought she was not consenting."
Mr Evans was jailed for five years after his original conviction in 2012 before being released in October 2014.
His conviction was referred to the Court of Appeal following a 10-month investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which found new information not raised at the original trial.
Mr Evans - who was playing for Sheffield United at the time of his conviction - came close to joining League One side oldham Athletic in January 2015.
However, the club pulled out of the deal following threats to their staff and pressure from sponsors.
Chesterfield chief executive Chris Turner said: "We are naturally delighted with the outcome, especially for Ched, his family and friends. We can now all move forward and focus on football."
The Football Association of Wales said it would not comment on the verdict.
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