BBC Radio Norfolk talk show host Nick Conrad has apologised for comments he made during a live debate about the future of convicted rapist and former Norwich City footballer Ched Evans.

Mr Conrad issued the apology for suggesting women were partially responsible for men acting upon their desires if they 'gave out the wrong signals''.

In a statement last night, the BBC said the Radio Norfolk host had been told his comments during a three hour phone-in about whether the player should be able to resume his football career, were 'very ill-judged'.

Mr Conrad, whose show is billed as one that 'gets the county talking', said on the live show: 'I think women need to be more aware of a man's sexual desire, that when you're in that position that you are about to engage in sexual activity, there's a huge amount of energy in the male body.

'There's a huge amount of will and intent, and it's very difficult for many men to say no when they are whipped up into a bit of a storm.'

Domestic violence and rape support charities condemned the comments, with deputy police and crime commissioner Jenny McKibben also speaking out saying the notion of 'uncontrollable male desire' was 'outdated and demeaning to the vast majority of right-thinking men'. The comments were made during a three hour show, where he aimed to provoke debate, and also spoke to the charity End Violence Against Women.

Last night, a BBC Radio Norfolk spokesman said there had been no formal complaints, but added: 'As part of a wide ranging discussion where Nick invited the listeners to talk frankly about the Ched Evans case, he made it clear that rape is an abhorrent act. BBC management has made it clear to Nick that some of his comments were very ill-judged and he has apologised for any offence that may have been caused.'

Toni Lawton, project manager at Sweet Arts, which works with domestic and sexual abuse victims, including rape victims, described Mr Conrad's comments as 'naive, laddish and insulting to all those men who do take responsibility for their behaviour'. She said: 'He seems to forget that rape is a crime perpetrated against men and women and that no is no regardless of scenario.'

A spokesman for Norwich-based domestic violence charity Leeway said she was 'saddened' by Nick Conrad's comments. 'His views do not represent the many men and women who are standing up against domestic abuse and sexual violence next week for the Norfolk Says No to Domestic Abuse from the 24th – 28th November,' she added.

Clive Lewis, Labour's Candidate for Norwich South said: 'Listening to Nick Conrad's comments it's all too clear he's got this badly wrong. To suggest men are little better than animals with no self-control is quite frankly offensive. Unlike Mr Conrad I think most men understand the concept of 'no means no'. It's not a difficult concept to master. I think men and women across Norfolk expect a higher standard of journalism and editorial sensitivity from the BBC and I hope Nick Conrad apologises swiftly.'

Jess Asato, Labour's Candidate for Norwich North said: 'Nick Conrad's views are not only crass and demeaning towards women, they are downright dangerous because they help to perpetuate rape culture. The idea that women 'whip men up' and lead them on is as old as the hills and feeds into the mentality that some women are 'asking for it' or somehow deserve to be raped. Nick Conrad ought to know better than reinforce these stereotypes and should issue an immediate apology for his insensitive comments.'

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