Alex Hepburn (cricketer)

Alex Hepburn (born 21 December 1995), is an Australian cricketer, who last played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club in England. In April 2019, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment for the rape of a sleeping woman as part of a WhatsApp-based 'sexual conquest game'.

Alex Hepburn
Personal information
Full nameAlex Hepburn
Born (1995-12-21) 21 December 1995
Subiaco, Western Australia
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2015–2017Worcestershire (squad no. 26)
List A debut17 August 2015 Worcestershire v Leicestershire
Twenty20 debut5 August 2017 Worcestershire v Northamptonshire
Career statistics
Competition List A T20
Matches 2 5
Runs scored 32 25
Batting average 32.00 12.50
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 32 10
Balls bowled 113 75
Wickets 6 6
Bowling average 13.00 18.00
5 wickets in innings 0 1
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 4/34 5/24
Catches/stumpings 0/– 2/–
Source: CricketArchive, 12 April 2019

Cricket career

A batting all-rounder, he bowled right-arm medium pace, and batted right-handed. He made his one-day debut for Worcestershire against Leicestershire in August 2015.[1] He made his Twenty20 cricket debut for Worcestershire in the 2017 NatWest t20 Blast on 5 August 2017.[2]

Rape conviction

On 9 November 2017, Hepburn was charged with two counts of rape, but these charges were not confirmed to the public until 29 November 2017. Worcestershire County Cricket Club suspended Hepburn on full pay,[3] but did not renew his contract when it expired at the end of September 2018.[4] At Hepburn's trial in January 2019, the jury failed to reach a verdict, and as a result were discharged.[5] He underwent a retrial in April 2019,[6] and was convicted of one count of rape on 12 April 2019. During the trial Hepburn admitted he had sent "disgusting" WhatsApp messages relating to a sexual conquest competition.[7][8] Worcestershire County Cricket Club issued a statement saying that they were appalled by the details reported in the case.[9] On 30 April 2019, Hepburn was sentenced to five years in prison.[10] He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.[11]

Hepburn has been imprisoned in HM Prison Littlehey.[12]

References
  1. "Hepburn's fine debut brings consolation win for Worcestershire". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  2. "North Group, NatWest t20 Blast at Worcester, Aug 5, 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  3. "Worcestershire cricketer Alex Hepburn charged with rape". BBC News. BBC. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. "WCCC STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ALEX HEPBURN PROCEEDINGS". WCCC. WCCC. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  5. "Jury in Alex Hepburn rape trial discharged after failing to reach a verdict". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. "Worcestershire cricketer Alex Hepburn will face rape retrial". BBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  7. "Alex Hepburn: Cricketer guilty of raping sleeping woman". BBC News. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. "Alex Hepburn found guilty of rape following retrial at Worcester Crown Court". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. "WCCC Statement following the conclusion of Alex Hepburn proceedings". Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  10. "Cricketer jailed for raping sleeping woman". BBC Sport. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  11. "Worcestershire's Alex Hepburn gets five years jail for rape". Hereford Times. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  12. Writer, Staff. "Woman raped by Australian cricketer Alex Hepburn reveals her face was left paralysed in attack". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
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