English cricket star who raped a woman is given the green light to play in Australia despite being banned from the sport for 10 years
- Disgraced cricket star will be allowed to play cricket in WA
- Alex Hepburn was jailed in Britain in 2019 for rape
- The all-rounder will continue to play in the West Aussie League
Cricketer Alex Hepburn has been given the green light to play in Australia despite being banned from the sport in England and Wales for raping a sleeping woman.
The West Australian Cricket Association confirmed Hepburn will continue to play in the WA competition for the Willetton Dragons just days after his ban.
The professional athlete, 28, who played in Britain for Worcestershire, was jailed in 2019 after committing the rape after setting up a group chat for a ‘sexual conquest competition’.
Following an appeal in 2020, his conviction for the attack in a flat in Worcester was upheld, but he was released in 2021.
This year, Hepburn was charged by the Cricket Regulator with two breaches of the 2017 England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) guidelines.
In September, the independent Cricket Discipline Commission decided to impose a 10-year ban on Hepburn after he failed to respond to the offences.
The rapist will also have to undergo ‘appropriate professional treatment’ in relation to the events that led to his conviction.
Cricketer Alex Hepburn (pictured) has been allowed to continue playing sports in Australia, despite a 10-year ban from playing in England and Wales
the talented all-rounder was found guilty of raping a woman in 2019
Despite the ban, the WA District Cricket Council has allowed Hepburn to continue playing in Australia.
“The Cricket Discipline Commission and Cricket Regulator in Great Britain have no jurisdiction in Western Australia,” a spokeswoman for the WA Cricket Association said.
‘The Western Australian District Cricket Council is responsible for decisions regarding the eligibility of players for the Premier Cricket competition.
The West Australian Cricket Association confirmed Hepburn will continue to play in the WA competition for the Willetton Dragons
“From WA Cricket to club cricket there are systems and policies in place to safeguard and protect those who play our game.”
Hepburn’s former teammates Joe Clarke and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were charged by the ECB in 2019 for bringing disgrace to the game after being part of the WhatsApp group. The pair were not charged with any offence.