Ched Evans petition: Sheffield United striker 'to return' to club after rape sentence, despite petition garnering 60,000 signatures against him

Ched Evans has been jailed for rape (GETTY IMAGES)

Footballer Ched Evans, who was jailed for a raping a woman in a hotel room, will be welcomed back by Sheffield United when he is released from prison, according to a supporters' group.

Evans is due to be released in October after serving half of a five-year sentence imposed in April 2012.

His club has refused to comment on reports that he will be offered a new contract after he leaves prison but Alan Smith, from the official supporters' club, said he has been told Evans will be returning.

"I've been led to believe that is the case," he said.

"I've been told he will be back."

Mr Smith said he believes the majority of United fans will want Evans back despite an online petition of 59,000 people urging chairman Kevin McCabe to refuse to reinstate the 25-year-old striker.

"I think that for most supporters it's good he's coming back because of what he did for us before," he said.

"I think that he's served his time."

Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans was jailed for five years for rape (PA)

Mr Smith said he thought many United fans believed Evans was wrongly convicted.

The Welsh international was jailed for five years for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room in North Wales.

Evans denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court.

He admitted having sex with her but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident.

The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge.

An appeal against Evans' conviction was rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in 2012.

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His girlfriend, Natasha Massey, has led a campaign to have the conviction overturned. She also believes he should be allowed to return to football even before any appeal is heard.

She told Sky News today: "All Ched wants to do is to go back to work, do the job that he loves, play football, score goals and then come home and have a family life."

A Sheffield United spokesman said the club would not be commenting on the Evans situation today.

PA