Post by Taxigirl on Jan 9, 2004 11:25:25 GMT
A 17-year-old girl who alleged two Premiership footballers gang raped her at a London hotel is considering a civil action against them.
Carlton Cole and Titus Bramble were among four men questioned by police but they denied any wrongdoing at the Grosvenor Hotel on 27 September 2003.
On Thursday, the Crown Prosecution Service said there was "insufficient evidence" to charge any of the men.
The girl's spokesman Max Clifford said she and her father were " devastated ".
"From everything that has been said by the police in the last couple of months to them, they were totally convinced that it would go ahead," he said.
Asked about the prospect of a civil case where there is a lower burden of proof than in a criminal case, Mr Clifford said there were "options" which they would discuss on Friday.
The girl and solicitors for the four men were informed by police before the CPS statement was released.
Mr Bramble, 22, who plays for Newcastle United, and Mr Cole, 19, who is on loan to Charlton from Chelsea, were arrested and questioned on 19 October.
A third man, 29-year-old Nicholas Meikle, who had also been arrested issued his own statement denying any wrongdoing.
In the CPS statement, specialist rape prosecutor Claire Ward said the case had been reviewed.
"We have concluded that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction against any of the four suspects for any offence," she said.
A senior barrister called in by the CPS to give an independent opinion came to the same conclusion.
Footballers' reaction
A statement issued by lawyer Graham Shear, on behalf of the two footballers, said: "My clients have always categorically denied these allegations.
"This significant announcement marks the closure to an exhaustive four-month police investigation and demonstrates that my clients have not committed any crime whatsoever."
A file was sent to the CPS in November, following an investigation into the allegations.
The media were able to identify the two footballers after the Attorney General's office said the identification process in the police investigation was complete.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The four men arrested during the course of this investigation will face no further action by police in connection with this matter."