Manchester United defender Jonny Evans will not face
charges over an alleged rape at the team's Christmas party, police
said today.
Greater Manchester Police said the decision was taken after they
presented evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service. A statement
read: "Greater Manchester Police gathered the evidence and compiled
the case file for the Crown Prosecution Service.
"The CPS has now taken the decision to take no further action
against the 19-year-old man arrested following an incident at a
city centre hotel on Tuesday, December 18, 2007."
A statement from the CPS said there was "insufficient evidence"
to charge Evans, who was sent out on loan to Sunderland in
January.
Carol Jackson, head of the rape and family abuse team at City of
Manchester CPS, said: "We take any allegation of rape extremely
seriously and all rape cases are reviewed by specialist
prosecutors.
"After carefully examining the evidence in this case, we have
decided that there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic
prospect of conviction." A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester
Police said no charges would be brought against the alleged
victim.
A spokeswoman for Manchester United said the club had no comment
to make about the decision not to press charges against Evans.