Alex Hepburn, the former Worcestershire allrounder, has received a 10-year suspension from playing in ECB competitions, as decided by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC). This ruling comes three years after Hepburn served a prison sentence for rape.
Earlier this year, Hepburn faced charges from the Cricket Regulator for violating ECB Directive 3.3 on two counts. The first charge stemmed from his 2019 conviction. Hepburn received a five-year prison sentence and was released in October 2021 after serving two years. The second charge involved his participation in a misogynistic WhatsApp group during his time with Worcestershire in 2017.
Now 28, Hepburn has not played professionally since details of his arrest in April 2017 surfaced. During his four-day trial, it was revealed that he had “dehumanised” women, ranking them in a “sexual conquest competition” through text messages with teammates. He was found guilty of oral rape after an incident in his flat with his then-teammate, Joe Clarke. Hepburn’s appeal against his conviction was dismissed in September 2020.
Due to his prison time, the Cricket Regulator could only notify him of the charges earlier this year. His 10-year suspension is backdated to his release date, while the two-year suspension for the second charge is considered already served. Hepburn did not respond to the charge letter or appeal the CDC’s decision, which was made in his absence. He is also required to undergo “appropriate professional treatment” and education courses before he can participate in any ECB-related activities. Additionally, he remains on the sex offenders register for life.
Leave a Reply