Freed footballer Ched Evans has broken his silence over his rape shame – but failed to show any remorse for the pain he caused his victim.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, the 25-year-old player said he would always regret cheating on loyal girlfriend Natasha Massey and wishes he could “turn back the clock”.
He described letting her down as “unforgivable” then insisted he was innocent of his crime.
But Evans, speaking shortly before he was released early from jail on Friday, was last night blasted by a rape support group for not apologising to his 19-year-old victim.
And public outrage grew with the news that Sheffield United may still give the striker a new contract while the girl he assaulted is facing the rest of her life living under a new identity.
Evans spoke ONLY about his girlfriend in his first interview over the case.
He said:
“I regret everything that happened and wish I could turn back the clock. I am very lucky my girlfriend Tasha has stood by me. She knows I am not capable of rape. She has helped me to cope. I want to play football again, but I am determined to prove my innocence.
“I really thought it would have been thrown out of court and I was stunned when I was convicted. I had done nothing wrong.
“It was something that should never have happened. And it is something that I will regret for the rest of my life. I cheated on my girlfriend and had sex with this girl – but it was definitely consensual.”
Source:Sunday Mirror