Defiant rapist footballer Ched Evans and his girlfriend made their first public display of unity today – as it emerged that his supporters had exposed the new identity of his victim.
The former Sheffield United striker strolled hand-in-hand with Natasha Massey, 26, who stood by him after he admitted cheating on her.
Meanwhile, police said the 22-year-old victim may be forced to change her name after internet trolls blew her cover.
The woman was forced to flee the country and adopt another identity when she became the target of a Twitter hate campaign, following Evans’ conviction for raping her in 2011.
Now that details of her new life have been published online, she may have to start over for a second time.
Det Supt Jo Williams, of North Wales Police, said: ‘The victim in this case has been in regular contact with officers responsible for her care and is receiving appropriate support at this difficult time. She has been fully appraised of all her options.’
Evans, who has refused to accept his guilt, was pictured with Massey in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, following his release from prison last week.
The 25-year-old, who said the victim had been drinking and consented to have sex with him at a hotel near Rhyl in Wales, was set free after serving half of his five-year sentence.
An inquiry into his case is being fast-tracked by the Criminal Cases Review Commission after a vocal campaign from his supporters.
But more than 150,000 people have signed a petition calling for Sheffield United – where he scored 48 goals in 113 games – not to give him his old job back. The club has said it is yet to make a decision.
Ten people have previously been fined for illegally naming Evans’s victim on Twitter but police have refused to say if they are in pursuit of the trolls behind the latest privacy breach. The North Wales force said it did not rule out giving the victim another new identity to protect her.
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