An 18-year old man from the Edgware area of London has been arrested after the assault of Teddy Hall student Jeanne Marie Ryan in Plush Lounge last week.
Her attack received widespread coverage on social media after she posted a #nomakeupselfie showing the cuts and bruises that she had received.
According to Ryan’s report, the suspect groped her while she was dancing, before punching her in the face when she resisted. She further reports that he knocked her to the ground, before hitting her a further 6 times when she stood back up.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she said, “He seemed really angry that he hadn’t knocked me out straightaway.
“I was bleeding profusely and as he walked off, I was yelling at someone to stop him from getting away but he just walked out of the club.
“We had chosen to go there because it’s an LGBT club and we just wanted to dance with no hassle. Everyone who goes there thinks of it as a safe space – it’s great for dancing and not being bothered by guys.”
Since the attack, Ryan has set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the Oxford Seuxal Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre. At the time of writing, the page had received 2,059 donations and raised almost £15,000.
The suspect was arrested at 2am on Saturday. He has now been bailed, and is due to appear at St. Aldate’s police station on 1 April.
Plush Lounge commented, “We are delighted to hear that a suspect has been apprehended, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist the authorities in the hope that justice will be swift and sure.”
The police statment reads:
“An 18-year-old man has been arrested and bailed in connection with a sexual assault at an Oxford nightclub.
The man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in connection with the incident at the Plush Lounge in Park End Street, at around 2am on Saturday (22/3).
The man, who is from the Edgeware area of London, has been bailed to appear back at St Aldates police station on 1 April.”
