Footballer Ched Evans has been found not guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman after having his original conviction overturned earlier this year.
Evans faced a retrial over the alleged attack on a woman at a Premier Inn in north Wales in May 2011.
The BBC reports that there were gasps and cries in the public gallery when the verdict was read out.
The jury, of seven women and five men, took two hours to clear the Wales international striker of one count of rape at Cardiff Crown Court today.
Evans, 27, has always claimed he had consensual sex with the teenager following a night out in Rhyl.
He was originally found guilty of rape at Caernarfon Crown Court in 2012.
On the night of the alleged incident, Evans made his way to the hotel after receiving a text from his former teammate Clayton McDonald reading “I’ve got a bird”,
He told the court:
My intention was to go into the room, see what they were doing.
When I saw them, she was asking Clayton to f*** her harder.
When I walked in, the door slammed and they both looked at me.
Then Clayton looked at her and said: ‘Can my mate join in?’ She looked at me and said yes.
Mr Evans was in a relationship with Natasha Massey when he had sexual relations with the 19-year-old, and they are now engaged to be married.
After the verdict, Evans was discharged from the dock and embraced Miss Massey.
