Teenager refuses to apologise for naming rape victim

Published on 08/12/2012 01:30

A TEENAGER convicted of naming a rape victim on Twitter has refused to apologise to her and said paying compensation was “the last thing” she wanted to do.

The victim’s name was circulated on Twitter and Facebook after footballer Ched Evans was convicted of raping her at Caernarfon Crown Court in April.

Last month, Evans’s cousin, Gemma Thomas, and eight other defendants were each ordered to pay the victim £624 in one of the first cases of its kind, after they admitted revealing her identity on social networks.

Thomas, 18, took to Twitter days after her cousin’s conviction naming the victim, calling her a “money-grabbing slut” and accusing her of “ruining lives”.

In a radio interview yesterday, Thomas said she regretted her actions but continued to stand by her cousin, who she said was innocent, and refused to offer a direct apology to the victim.

Thomas said when she was initially told about the punishment, she thought it was a fine.

When her solicitor explained it was compensation she said she “went silent for an hour” and said she “couldn’t believe it”.

Asked why, Thomas responded: “Because it’s the last thing I wanted to do, pay her compensation.”