Former professional footballer Ched Evans, 25, freed from jail this morning

Campaigners have slammed an 'unrepentant' statement put out by rapist footballer Ched Evans after he walked free from prison today.

The former Sheffield United striker was released from jail early this morning after he served two and a half years of a five-year sentence he was given for raping a 19-year-old girl.

But an apparently unapologetic statement he later released in which he continued to protest his innocence and thanked his 'thousands' of supporters has caused anger among campaigners for victims of sexual violence.

The row came as delivery men brought a bouncy castle to Evans's family home, just hours after his release.

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A bouncy castle was spotted arriving at rapist footballer Ched Evans's family home this afternoon, just hours after the player was released from prison where he was serving a sentence for raping a teenager

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Delivery men began unloading the bouncy castle before a relative of Evans's appeared at the front door of the property and, after discussions, it was sent away

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The ex-Sheffield United footballer with his girlfriend Natasha Massey, who says she is standing by him

Evans released the controversial statement after he was whisked away from Wymott Prison near Leyland in Lancashire in the early hours of this morning.

The statement read: 'Next week Ched will make a very personal and profound statement by video which will be on his site and available for use by the media should they choose to do so.

'Ched is now adjusting to normal life after serving a sentence for a crime consistently denied.

'Whilst we understand the media interest, we would respectfully request some privacy over the next few weeks.