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Conservative election candidate Nick Conrad has announced he is standing down after it emerged he said women "should keep their nickers on" while discussing a high-profile rape case.

The former BBC Radio Norfolk presenter had received the backing of the local party in Broadland, Norfolk, on Wednesday.

However, the 34-year-old's selection faced an intense backlash over comments he made in 2014 during a radio conversation about former Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans, who was convicted of rape in 2011.

Mr Conrad said on Thursday that would be standing aside as the media attention was becoming a "distraction".

"Five years ago I made ill-judged comments during an on-air radio discussion for which I made a genuine and heartfelt apology," he said in a statement.

"However it has become clear to me that the media attention on my previous comments have become a distraction.

"For me, the most important thing is for the Conservative Party to be successful in the forthcoming election - getting Brexit done and delivering on the people's priorities.

"This is why I have reluctantly concluded I must stand down to allow one of the other excellent candidates the opportunity to win this fantastic seat."

During the live debate in 2014, Mr Conrad’s said that women should "keep their nickers on" while discussing the Ched Evans case.

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PA 15/83 Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn poses for photos with supporters during a general election campaign rally in Birmingham, Britain Reuters 16/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to the Grodzinski Bakery in Golders Green PA 17/83 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn serves students and teachers their school dinners at Bilton High School in Rugby, PA 18/83 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon plays with local children during a visit to the Jelly Tots & Cookies Play Cafe in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire PA 19/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson attempts to change a wheel of a Formula One car during a visit at Red Bull Racing while election campaigning PA 20/83 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson plays pool during a visit to Knights Youth Centre in London, while on the General Election campaign trail PA 21/83 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn eats chips in Whitby, while on the General Election campaign trail, wearing a jacket that has "for the many not the few" printed all 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packaging whilst on the General Election campaign traiL PA 29/83 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson arrives in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, for some national canvassing during the General Election campaign PA 30/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson, visits the Royal Welsh Showground, in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells whilst on the General Election campaign trail PA 31/83 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson on a cherry picker during a visit to an eco home building site whilst on the General Election campaign trail in Sheffield PA 32/83 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tries his hand at bricklaying during a visit to the West Nottinghamshire College Construction Centre, in Ashfield PA 33/83 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon gives her party's candidate for North East Fife Stephen Gethins a haircut, during a visit to Craig Boyd Hairdressing in Leven, Fife PA 34/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a visit to Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, while on the campaign trail for the General Election PA 35/83 Labour Manifesto launch Jeremy Selwyn 36/83 Nigel Farage visits the Brook pie and mash shop in Dagenham Lucy Young 37/83 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Craig Boyd Hairdressing in Leven, Fife, whilst on the General Election campaign trail PA 38/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to David Wilson Homes in Bedford while on the campaign trail for the General Election PA 39/83 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to The Oatcake Boat owned by Kay Mundy, in Stoke-on-Trent, while on the General Election campaign trai PA 40/83 Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Trumpington Park Primary School, in Cambridge, whilst campaigning for the General Electio PA 41/83 Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts during a general election campaign visit to Perthshire Preserves in Stirling AFP via Getty Images 42/83 Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid during a visit to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Coventry while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election PA 43/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy at Wythenshawe, while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election PA 44/83 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson eats a candy stick which reads "Back Boris" during a General Election campaign trail stop at Coronation Candy in Blackpool, AP 45/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Bathpool, Taunton PA 46/83 Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon (R) holds a baby as she campaigns with SNP candidate Catriona MacDonald AFP via Getty Images 47/83 Jo Swinson at Total Boxer Jeremy Selwyn 48/83 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a gift card with an image mocking him, during a General Election campaign trail stop in Wells AP 49/83 Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning PA 50/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school in Taunton AFP via Getty Images 51/83 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage wears boxing gloves as he poses with British boxer Dereck Chisora, during his visit to Gator ABC Boxing Club in Ilford AFP via Getty Images 52/83 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, during General Election campaigning PA 53/83 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan practices with a sparing partner Tyler Brindle as he visits a community boxing gym in London Reuters 54/83 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts PA 55/83 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow PA 56/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps with the clean up at an opticians as he visits Matlock in Sheffield Getty Images 57/83 Brexit party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips from Whitehaven Fish Bar Takeaway Restaurant during a walkabout after attending an election campaign even Getty Images 58/83 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills, The Spinning Mill in Leeds Getty Images 59/83 Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery while on the General Election campaign trail in Midsomer Norton PA 60/83 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus while on the General Election campaign trail in Liverpool PA 61/83 Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson attends an election campaign event in Golders Green Getty Images 62/83 Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries his hand at making an Antony Gormley inspired clay figure during an arts class whilst visiting the George Spencer Academy in Nottingham, while on the General Election campaign trail around the country PA 63/83 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon eats a cupcake during a visit to a bakery whilst on the election campaign trail in Alloa PA 64/83 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps quality control staff during a general election campaign visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland Reuters 65/83 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Bolsover Boxing Club near Chesterfield in Derbyshire PA 66/83 Britain's opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech during their election campaign event on Brexit in Harlow AP 67/83 Boris Johnson at Downing Street Jeremy Selwyn 68/83 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh PA 69/83 Carrie Symonds shares a picture of Dilyn the dog ready for the General Election @carriesymonds 70/83 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub with Owen Thompson, SNP election candidate for Midlothian Getty Images 71/83 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on route to Buckingham Palace ahead of an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the formal start of the General Election AP 72/83 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington PA 73/83 Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice poses as he wears boxing gloves at a general election campaign event at Bolsover Boxing Club in Chesterfield Reuters 74/83 Jeremy Corbyn kisses Emily Thornbury's hand in Battersea Jeremy Selwyn 75/83 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson takes a selfie as she appears on BBCC's The Andrew Marr Show BBC/AFP via Getty Images 76/83 Jeremy Corbyn prepares to launch the Labour Party's election campaign in south London AFP via Getty Images 77/83 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon helps to serve soup during a visit to the Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries, to meet voters and activists while on the General Election campaign. PA 78/83 Boris Johnson looks at old photographs of London with students at Abbots Green Primary Academy in Bury St Edmunds Getty Images 79/83 Nigel Farage on The Andrew Marr Show BBC/AFP via Getty Images 80/83 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has a coffee in Cafe Gelato, Rutherglen PA 81/83 Jeremy Corbyn takes a selfie while on the General Election campaign trail in Milton Keynes PA 82/83 Boris Johnson as he leaves 10 Downing Street AFP via Getty Images 83/83 Larry the cat walks outside Downing Street Reuters

He said: "I think women need to be more aware of a man's sexual desire that when you're in that position that you are about to engage in sexual activity there's a huge amount of energy in the male body, there's a huge amount of will and intent, and it's very difficult for many men to say no when they are whipped up into a bit of a storm."

He also said: "What I'm trying to say is that women also have to understand that when a man's given certain signals he'll wish to act upon them and if you don't wish to give out the wrong signals, it's best, probably, to keep your knickers on and not get into bed with him. Does that make sense?"

The comments were investigated by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom with no further action taken.

The presenter had told the Eastern Daily Press on Wednesday that he was "absolutely delighted" to be selected as Conservative parliamentary candidate for Broadland.

He said he had apologised for his comments in 2014 and did so again.

"It's a very genuine heartfelt apology," he said. "I completely messed up, I knew I'd got it wrong and it didn't demonstrate the fact that I know that it's the most abhorrent crime.

"I've for many years broadcast very difficult subject matter and I was very disappointed in myself after the reaction flared up on the back end of those comments.

"I apologise, I learned from it and I moved forward. I think that's the critical thing."

Labour MP Jess Phillips, reacting on Twitter to Mr Conrad's selection, said: "It's best to keep your knickers on to avoid rape according to this dude.

"I find it's best avoided by never coming in to contact with misogynistic men who have no understanding of consent."