WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club has promised to reform its culture after the conclusion of the Alex Hepburn rape trial.

Hepburn, 23, was found guilty of one count of oral rape by a unanimous verdict on April 12, and was cleared of a second count of raping a woman in 2017.

The all-rounder was sacked by the club following his arrest, and club chairman Fanos Hira said: “We are appalled by the details that have been reported in this case.

“The Board and CEO were first made aware of the arrest and subsequent charge of Mr Hepburn on November 10, 2017 and the club then took immediate and decisive action.

“Our OneClub values outline clear expectations of attitudes and behaviours for all staff at the club and everyone involved in Worcestershire cricket.

“We continue to work alongside both the ECB and PCA focussing on education, welfare and development programmes for all staff within the game.”

OneClub defines the cricket club’s core values as: community, integrity, humility, teamwork and commitment, and the club has pledged to be a ‘moral beacon’ in the community, both internal and external.

In November 2017, the club and board were first made aware of the arrest of Hepburn.

Following the news of his arrest, the club say they immediately informed the ECB, who imposed two sanctions: a cricket suspension, which prevented Mr Hepburn from playing first-class cricket, and a safeguarding suspension, which prevented Mr Hepburn from playing any form of cricket.

In the time between his arrest in the April of that year and the club being made aware, he had been given a one-year contract extension.

It was rumoured that coach at the time Steve Rhodes was aware of Hepburn’s arrest and failed to inform the board.

Shortly after the club heard of Hepburn’s arrest, a short statement confirmed that the club was dealing with a “Disciplinary matter” involving Mr Rhodes "relating solely to his position as director of cricket."

Two weeks later, another statement said he had been removed from his job with immediate effect.