Ched Evans sues his OWN lawyers for millions in 'lost earnings' saying they badly advised him at 2012 rape trial that saw him jailed before the conviction was overturned
- Sheffield United striker Ched Evans, 29, served half of five-year prison sentence
- In 2016 he won a retrial and the jury cleared him of raping woman in Premier Inn
- Evans says he was badly advised is suing the law firm who defended him in 2012
- Babners countered: 'We believe the claim for damages is entirely without merit'
![Footballer Ched Evans is suing the lawyers who represented him during a rape trial in a bid to recoup a millions in lost earnings](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/06/19/5847876-0-image-m-10_1541532478667.jpg)
Footballer Ched Evans is suing the lawyers who represented him during a rape trial in a bid to recoup a millions in lost earnings
Footballer Ched Evans is suing the lawyers who represented him during a rape trial in a bid to recoup a millions in lost earnings.
Former Sheffield United striker Evans spent two-and-a-half years in prison after he was convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel woman following a drunken night out in 2011.
But a retrial in 2016 found him not guilty and the Welsh international is claiming he was badly advised by Babners, the legal firm that defended him in 2012.
If Evans, who at the time of his arrest was top scorer for Sheffield United and earning around £18,000 a week, proves malpractice he could be awarded potentially millions of pounds in damages.
The 29-year-old is now playing on loan for Fleetwood Town in League One, but will argue that he missed out on a potential fortune owing to his conviction.
His arrest came following a successful year for the striker who had been named in the Professional Footballers' Association team of the year for the division - and was touted by many to go on and play in the Premier League.
Evans previously pursued Sheffield United, who employed him at the time he was arrested, for lost wages. However, the maximum amount a person who is wrongfully convicted can claim is capped at £500,000.
Evans is set for the High Court in April next year for the hearing of a civil case against Brabners, which could result in millions of pounds in damages.
![The 29-year-old is now playing on loan for Fleetwood Town in League One, but will argue that he missed out on a potential fortune owing to his conviction](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/06/19/5847878-0-The_29_year_old_is_now_playing_on_loan_for_Fleetwood_Town_in_Lea-m-12_1541532525559.jpg)
The 29-year-old is now playing on loan for Fleetwood Town in League One, but will argue that he missed out on a potential fortune owing to his conviction
A spokesperson for the law firm said: 'Brabners put forward a strong defence of the criminal case against Ched Evans following a thorough process and we are vigorously defending our handling of the case.
'We believe the claim for damages is entirely without merit.'
Evans was originally found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping the teenage woman at a Premier Inn during a night out in his home town of Rhyl.
Fellow footballer Clayton McDonald was cleared of rape at the original trial.
The retrial that led to his acquittal two years ago proved extremely controversial.
Jurors were allowed to hear the sexual history of the complainant which provoked outrage from women's support groups and campaigners.
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