Judy Finnigan'S Controversial Debut On Loose Women Judy Finnigan made her Loose Women debut and there was no holding her back as she defended ex Sheffield United player Ched Evnas Outrage as Judy Finnigan says rapist footballer Ched Evans should be allowed to rejoin club because rape wasn’t violent and girl was drunk Judy Finnigan has been branded 'disgraceful' after suggesting that a convicted rapist footballer should be allowed back to his club, because the attack 'wasn't violent and the victim was drunk.' Speaking on her Loose Women debut, the veteran broadcaster was discussing allowing rapist Ched Evans to return to play for his former club Sheffield United. The former Wales international, 25, was jailed for five years in 2012 after raping a 19-year-old woman at a hotel near Rhyl, Denbighshire - but is now preparing to be released from prison within days. Ms Finnigan, who announced her return to television by joining the panel of the ITV show, said: 'The rape and I am not, please, by any means minimising any kind of rape - but the rape was not violent. 'He didn’t cause any bodily harm to the person.' 'It was unpleasant, but in a hotel room I believe and she was – she had far too much to drink. ‘And you know, that is reprehensible but he has been convicted and he has served his time. 'Now when he comes out, what are we supposed to do? Just refuse to let him do his job? Again, even though he has already been punished?’ Asked if he should be allowed back to play football, Jusy said: ‘Well I think everything depends basically on, of course, whether the club wants him back but more importantly perhaps whether the fans want him back. ‘And I think he would have to brave, if he does go back, he would have to brave an awful lot of comments obviously from the fans who were there.’ She added: 'Supposing it wasn’t rape which is so emotional, sort of complicated. We all have huge feelings about it. Women have huge feelings about it. 'Supposing he was in for, I don’t know, breaking and entering or something like that and he had served his time, what would you think then? ‘What about someone like Jonathan Aitken who, you know, was jailed for perjury and spent a long time in prison and came out a totally reformed character. 'A very, very decent man and has been completely rehabilitated and he is always appearing on things like Question Time, always being interviewed. ‘Someone’s done a crime, they serve their time and when they come out, they shouldn’t be punished for the rest of their lives.' Her comments on the live show sparked immediate outrage on social media. Ian Hank tweeted: @judyfinnigan @richardm56 shame on you Ched Evans rape was ok because the victim was drunk....Standing up for women everywhere #shameful Nadia Gilani added: 'I cannot believe Judy Finnigan just said: 'the rape was not violent' on @loosewomen while talking about crime Ched Evans was convicted of' Gemma Mitchell ‏tweeted: '#judyfinnigan on Ched Evans rape: "Was not physically violent".How exactly do you define rape then?Unbelievable. #LooseWomen' Mailonline has contacted ITV for comment. Over 100,000 people have signed a petition to prevent Evans from returning to play for his former club Sheffield United.

• published: 13 Oct 2014
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