Ched Evan’s rape conviction has been sent to the Court of Appeal due to new information that was not raised at the trial, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRG) has said.

Evans was sentenced to five years in jail in April 2012 for raping a 19-year-old woman.

The footballer pleaded not guilty at his trial at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping the woman in a Rhyl Hotel room. He admitted to having sex with the woman but claimed it was consensual.

Later the same year an application for leave to appeal launched by Evans was heard and dismissed by the full court. He was released in October last year after serving half of his sentence and there was a media storm when he was reported to be about to join Hartlepool and Oldham Athletic.

Now the CCRG has referred the case for appeal following a 10 month investigation, during which time it has identified new information that “could have added support to Mr Evan’s defence at trial and therefore raises a real possibility that the Court of Appeal may quash the conviction,” it said in a statement.

Richard Foster, Chair of the CCRG, said:

“The decision of the Commission is not a judgment on guilt or innocence in relation to Ched Evans, nor is it a judgment about the honesty or integrity of the victim or any other person involved in the case.

“Our role is to consider applications to see if, in our judgment, there is any basis on which to ask the court to hear a fresh appeal – that is our statutory responsibility.

“In this case we have identified new material which was not considered by the jury at trial and which in our view might have assisted the defence. In those circumstances, it is right and proper for the matter to be before the Court so that they can decide whether or not the new information should affect the verdict in this case.”

Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Show all 5 1 /5 Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Nick Clegg Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield MP Nick Clegg said that Evans should not have been allowed to return to train with Sheffield United, but indicated that he believed the Welsh international should be allowed to continue his career, possibly with a foreign club Getty Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Jessica Ennis-Hill Jessica Ennis-Hill has warned she will withdraw her name from the stands at Sheffield Unity if convicted rapist Ched Evans is re-signed Harry Engels/Getty Images Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Charlie Webster Charlie Webster resigns as patron of Sheffield United after club allowed convicted rapist Ched Evans to return to training Rex Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Dave Berry Sixties pop star Dave Berry has resigned as patron of the club since Evans returned to training Rex Public figures speak out against Ched Evans' Sheffield return Lindsay Graham Sheffield businesswoman Lindsay Graham has also resigned as patron of the club since Evans returned to training

The possible outcomes of Evans’ appeal could either see the Court of Appeal uphold his conviction, overturn the conviction or quash the conviction and order a retrial.

The CCRG's statement added that it was very aware of the impact its decisions can have for victims of crimes and stressed the anonymity guaranteed by law for the victim in this case.

It said: "We have been particularly mindful of the targeted abuse suffered by the victim in this case and have sought to act accordingly.