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Police investigating 'rape' tweets sent to Ennis-Hill

Jessica Ennis-Hill will ask to have her name removed from a Bramhall Lane stand if Sheffield United re-sign Ched Evans © PA Photos

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South Yorkshire police are investigating after rape threats were made to Jessica Ennis-Hill on Twitter.

Ennis-Hill released a statement on Thursday saying she would ask to have her name removed from stand named after her by Sheffield United, should the club choose to re-sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Ennis-Hill received the abuse via the social networking site later on Thursday, with one tweet reportedly saying: "I hope he [Evans] rapes her."

A South Yorkshire police spokesman confirmed several abusive tweets were being investigated, saying: "Officers are looking into the tweets."

A police statement added: "Officers are making efforts to contact the individual concerned, but have launched an investigation into the posts online."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was "appalling" that Ennis-Hill had received threats for speaking out over the situation.

Cooper told the BBC: "Whether it's on Twitter or in the pub, wherever it is, it should still be a criminal offence and that's why the police need to investigate.

"And for it to happen when Jessica Ennis Hill has done exactly the right thing by taking a stand against violence against women, to be honest it shows why what she's done is so important."

The Bramall Lane Stand was renamed after Ennis-Hill, a life-long Sheffield United fan, following her gold in the heptathlon at the London 2012 Olympics.

Evans was released from jail last month after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel in North Wales. He is back in training with the Blades after they agreed to a request from the Professional Footballers' Association - though there is no word on the 25-year-old being offered a new contract.

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