Five arrests over Evans rape ID

Three people from Sheffield have been arrested along with two others with revealing the identity online of a woman raped by former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans.

The Crown Prosecution Service have confirmed that the total number of people charged over publishing the matter online that was likely to lead to identification of the victim now stands at nine.

Paul Devine, 26, Daniel Cardwell, 25, and Shaun Littler, 22, all from Sheffield were charged yesterday along with Hollie Price, 25, from Prestatyn and Gemma Thomas, 18, from Rhyl.

Benjamin Davies, 27, from Rhyl, and Michael Ashton, 21, from Llanddulas, North Wales, were charged on Tuesday with revealing information on Twitter that could lead to the complainant being identified. Both have been bailed and will also appear at Prestatyn Magistrates' Court on November 5

Dominic Green, 23, from Rhyl, and Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, were charged on Monday for allegedly publishing messages revealing the victim's identity on Facebook.

Former Sheffield United and Wales striker Evans was jailed for five years in April for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room. Evans admitted having sex with her, but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident - and the prosecution said she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Following the trial, the victim was allegedly named and subjected to abuse on Twitter and other social networking websites. More than a dozen arrests were made, with North Wales Police saying the alleged online comments were "profoundly disturbing" and contributed to the victim's "continued trauma".