Sex offender Ched Evans told he's banned from working abroad

Convicted rapist Ched Evans has been told that, as a sex offender on licence, he is banned from resuming his football career abroad.

The Ministry of Justice intervened after Maltese side Hibernians offered the former Sheffield United and Wales striker a contract until the end of the season.

We are determined to have one of the toughest regimes in the world for managing sex offenders, to stop them re-offending and to protect victims.

Probation officers must give permission for sex offenders on licence to take up new jobs and this includes ensuring they hold regular face to face meetings - this effectively rules out working abroad.

The offenders will also be subject to strict conditions such as exclusion zones, non-contact orders and having to attend sex offender treatment programmes.

• Ministry of Justice statement

Malta's prime minister had earlier written on Twitter:

Since being released from prison in October after serving half of his five-year sentence for raping a woman at a hotel in Rhyl, North Wales, Evans's former club Sheffield United retracted their offer of letting him train with them when 160,000 people signed a petition opposing his return.

Tranmere, Oldham and Hartlepool all also turned down the opportunity to sign the 26-year-old.

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