Ched Evans may take legal action against Loose Women over Gloria Hunniford comments

Family of footballer acquitted of rape accuse Hunniford of misrepresenting evidence in his case on ITV show

The family of Ched Evans has warned they may take legal action against Loose Women over a discussion about the decision by a jury to acquit him of rape.

The former Chesterfield striker served two-and-a-half years of his prison sentence after being found guilty of raping a woman at a Premier Inn in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, in 2011.

His conviction was quashed in April and on Friday, after just two hours of deliberation, a jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him not guilty of rape.

After his acquittal, Hunniford said on the ITV show: “I have to say, and this is my personal opinion of course, it shows the type of man he is though because the facts of the case.

“The mere fact that his mate goes 'I’ve got a girl, you know, do you want to come' and he goes there and they have a threesome and two blokes are outside the window filming it.

“And he never says a word to the girl and then he gets down the fire escape and then leaves and this girl apparently, as it turns out, was so drunk. [...]

“Ched Evans would be the last person I’d be sending my grandchildren to for any kind of sex education or drink education.”

In a statement online, the family accused Hunniford of “misrepresenting the evidence presented at Cardiff Crown Court in this respect”.

(Getty Images (Getty Images)

“Ched has always acknowledged his behaviour was morally unacceptable but consensual,” it continued.

Their statement added: “His family are now actively considering their legal options.

“Opinion is acceptable but misinformation broadcast on prime time television is not.”

A spokesperson for Loose Women said: “We've received a complaint from the father of Ched Evans' partner, to which we are responding.”

The Independent has contacted Hunniford for comment.