UK & World News
- 24 April 2012, 19:57
Footballer Suspended Over Rape Tweets
Sheffield United has suspended reserve player Connor Brown over insults he posted on Twitter about a rape victim, Sky sources say.
The football club is conducting a probe into Brown's tweets about the 19-year-old woman, who his teammate Ched Evans was convicted of raping.
Brown, 19, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Evans was jailed for five years for raping the woman in a hotel room near Rhyl.
Brown sparked fury by posting a series of insults about Evans' victim on the social networking site.
The tweets have since been taken down.
North Wales Police confirmed they are investigating the naming of Evans' rape victim on Twitter and have said that arrests "will be made".
Hundreds of other messages were posted on Twitter abusing the rape victim and calling for the footballer to be freed.
Police are reminding people that the law gives rape victims and other victims of serious sexual offences anonymity for life.
They warned that if anyone publishes a victim's identity they will be subject to investigation and possible criminal proceedings.
ACC Gareth Pritchard said: "We wish to reassure victims of serious sexual offences of our continuing determination to support them."
what do you think?
Norman Lindsay
Bye-bye Connor, enjoy your 15 minutes of fame. I hope you have a few months sharing a cell with your hero Ched.
Nicola Anderson
Footballers seem to think they can get away with anything. The mind boggles over how they aquire this attitude.
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Robert Taylor
ignorant
Mike Anon
Footballers? Overpaid morons!
Fleur Black
most men think a girl who gets drunk is a slut and a guy who takes advantage of her is a star. now the police need to prosecute all these stars and supporters
jonny english
Rubbish!
TheKarmacanic
If only it were that easy. But it would be a good reason to build more prisons!
jonny english
Didn't a guy get sent to prison for posting comments about Muambe or whatever he's called. But you can bet this little chappy won't go down, he'll have his card at the ready!
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tails1973
Footballers are truly very "Special!"
TheKarmacanic
Special needs... and having the IQ of a mollusc!
Kelly James
Please don't insult those with special needs by comparing them to these lowlifes.
TheKarmacanic
Sorry Kelly, no offence intended.
Robbie Atkin
typical footballer, no brains !
Mike Williams
studies show that footballers are more intelligent than most of us. I wouldnt want to evacuate my bladder on any of your chips however these are facts. Not something you would probably have heard of before... So put your petty jealousy aside and concentrate on the story at hand. I find it odd that so many can dismiss the apparent protestations from this player, especially as it has occurred on such a public stage, are we sure we know everything about this case? or did we just react to how it has been put across in the news? I dont in any way condone the actions of the player, and have no reason to suspect foul play but then I wont condemn the guy for doing it if he firmly believes he has reason to do so. he has to understand that making a public statement on twitter is a big deal therefore he did so acecpting the risk. To dismiss them as 'typical footballers with no brains' is simply displaying your own ignorance. Typical news article comment posters. no brains.
aa aa
Studies don't actually show anything of the sort. Complete and utter nonsense. You assume people are jealous of footballers. Not so , people are annoyed at their arrogance. Completely different. Why would we be jealous of a convicted rapist, and his sidekick??
Anthony Keefe
Yawn !
TheKarmacanic
What studies are these Mike? Name them, so that we can check you're argument is true!
Julie Doughty
Jealous???? Of over paid twerps who work once or maybe twice a week and with over inflated egos??? I dont think so!!! They think they are a law unto themselves!! Who rattled your cage anyhow Mike???
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Rob Fellows
Mike, please think about the facts, this tw@ shouldn't have posted insults about a rape victim. Imagine if it was your daughter that got raped, and Connor Brown tweeted a load of insults about her. Yep - thought so.
TIM x
Come on everyone we alt know footballers are above the law. . . Poor girl. What a stupid stupid young man. World at his feet and no end of girls would prob have been after him. Any decent man with money would have put her in a taxi and made sure she got home safe.
Julie Doughty
Well said Tim!!!
Eric Clutterbean
i am astonished this lad is able to use a keyboard
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David Hussey
Yet again another football player who thinks they are above the law, I am sick of such cases being in the news. These so called athletes should be trained how to be law abiding citizens and also how to be sensible with the obscene wages packets they get .... Disgusting!!!
Phylip de la Maziere
Its about time these so called sportsman got a short sharp shock throw a few in jail cut their wages and make them behave like most normal people!!! ps did you know sir alex is a FREEMASON
TheKarmacanic
No surprise there. He seems like the type to wear a silly apron, roll up his trouser leg and bare his left breast! If you asked him nicely, he'd probably show you his secret handshake!!
Rob Fellows
What a total pr@. A perfect example of someone too young and immature, given too much responsibility and too big an audience. Although Connor Brown, "reserve player" at Sheffield Utd currently in League 1, doesn't look like he'll make too much of a career out of it. He'll end up a Burglar or Drug Dealer.
Patricia Haslam
hope rape never happens to one of his family.he is disgusting.
Mike McDonough
1:03pm on 24/4/2012
Says a lot about so called sportsmen and their fans.
TheKarmacanic
1:07pm on 24/4/2012
Absolutely, most of them are Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons!
Joan Burgess
3:09pm on 24/4/2012
I'll drink to that! Cheers!
Kelly James
3:09pm on 24/4/2012
I knew the day would come when I would agree with something TheKarmacanic said....
Name witheld
3:38pm on 24/4/2012
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TheKarmacanic
5:00pm on 24/4/2012
It's good that we can debate... Although we disagree more often than not, it's nice to sometimes agree!