Reporting restriction on Ched Evans' rape conviction appeal

The former Sheffield United striker and Welsh international is present at the Court of Appeal for proceedings in which leading judges are reviewing his conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman.

An order has been put on the case restricting what can be reported from it until it concludes.

The case is expected to be heard over two days.

Evans’ has been referred to the court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.

The CCRC announced last October that new evidence had emerged in the case.

The referral to appeal judges followed a 10-month investigation by the commission.

Evans was convicted in April 2012. He was found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping the woman at a hotel in Rhyl.

Evans, now 27, was released from prison in 2014 after serving half of his five-year sentence.

Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison are considering the safety of his conviction.

They will hear submissions from Kieran Vaughan QC, for Evans, and from Eleanor Laws QC, for the Crown.