I am astonished at the level of public opposition to Ched Evans’s continuation of his football career (Report, 6 January). There have been other football players that have served prison sentences in the recent past (not to mention MPs): Joey Barton for common assault and Lee Hughes for causing death by dangerous driving, both of whom were allowed to resume their careers without public objection. Why are their crimes less unworthy? Why is Evans subject to such a devastating witch-hunt? Considering the events, I wonder how safe is the conviction and how fair his character assassination. Footballers are not role models, by and large; they have no peculiar moral standing. Some are paid sums out of all proportion to the benefit they provide to society, but income carries no responsibility, pace bankers. It is easy to bundle a list of signatures in response to a visceral objection, but it takes guts to risk commercial disadvantage by standing up to an inconsistency in the year of Magna Carta.
Dr Jana Robinson
Altrincham, Greater Manchester
• Sex offender Ched Evans is still serving his five-year sentence following his conviction for raping a 19-year-old vulnerable young woman. Following his 30 months in prison, he is now on licence for a further 30 months. He is also on the sex offenders register for life because he received a sentence in excess of 30 months for a sex offence. As a sex offender who does not acknowledge his offence, he should be assessed by the Probation Service as presenting a high risk of reoffending. Given that Mr Evans is supervised by the Probation Service, I wonder what contact they have had with Oldham Athletic and Gordon Taylor of the Professional Footballers’ Association?
Mick Gough
Stoke-on-Trent
