Hepburn given 10-year ban in England and Wales

Former Worcestershire all-rounder Alex Hepburn has been banned from cricket-related activity successful England and Wales for 10 years.

Hepburn was jailed for 5 years for rape successful 2019 and released successful 2021.

The 28-year-old's prohibition is backdated to nan constituent erstwhile he was released from prison.

Hepburn, now surviving successful Australia, was recovered blameworthy astatine a retrial successful 2019 connected charges relating to an onslaught astatine a level successful Worcester successful 2017 and his conviction was upheld astatine nan Court of Appeal successful 2020.

The onslaught connected 1 April 2017 took spot connected nan first nighttime of a intersexual conquest title pinch team-mates, which he helped group up connected a WhatsApp group.

The Australian-born Hepburn was charged by nan Cricket Regulator pinch 2 breaches of nan 2017 England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Directives earlier this year.

The first related to his apprehension and consequent criminal conviction, and nan 2nd to his information successful an violative WhatsApp group.

Hepburn did not respond to nan complaint missive and nan independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) - nan assemblage that hears disciplinary cases successful nan master home crippled successful England and Wales - reached its determination successful his absence.

In summation to serving a 10-year ban, Hepburn is besides required to acquisition due master curen for nan issues starring to his criminal condemnation and undertake due training and acquisition courses earlier resuming immoderate cricket related activity.

Team-mates Joe Clarke and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were charged pinch bringing nan crippled into disrepute by nan ECB successful 2019 aft being named arsenic members of a WhatsApp group which came to ray during Hepburn's trial.

Neither Clarke nor Kohler-Cadmore were charged pinch immoderate criminal offence.