Police probe Sky over rape victim's name

Police have interviewed staff at Sky News after the broadcaster published the name of the teenager raped by the Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Williams, of North Wales police, confirmed today that Sky News had co-operated with the investigation. The case will now be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Attorney General’s office.

Sheffield United and Wales striker Evans was jailed for five years at Caernarfon Crown Court on 20 April for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room. He denied the allegation and has indicated he plans to appeal the verdict.

Despite the fact that victims of sexual assault are guaranteed lifetime anonymity by the courts, the girl was allegedly named in a series of increasingly abusive messages on Twitter and other websites which police described as “profoundly disturbing” and contributing to her “continued trauma”.

Sky said a technical error meant the victim’s name was broadcast “for a fraction of a second” and was “visible only when viewed in slow motion”.