Ched Evans - The Balanced View.

The Ched Evans saga runs and runs and will gather pace upon his release from prison tomorrow after serving two and a half years for rape. There are three points I would wish to make:
1) This Blogger favours nothing less than the harshest of public-protecting sentences for rapists.
2) Nonetheless, in my view and with a ten year history of dealing with (admittedly, less serious cases) as a Chairman of Magistrates, I found the conviction of Ched Evans to be extremely disturbing. From the evidence I saw - and I cannot claim to have seen it all - it seemed that he was found guilty purely on the grounds of some utterly deplorable behaviour on his part. Engaging in sordid activity though, is hardly justification for a rape conviction.
3) It is clear then, that I would have few problems with him returning to his career as a professional footballer. Even if I had thought the conviction valid, I still cannot see how the man should receive the extra punishment of losing his livelihood for his misdeeds. In what other situations would we think this to be appropriate? After all, the man is no paedophile.