University student reveals how she was dragged into car by a stranger while on way home from night out

A university student attacked on her way home from a night out in Bristol has shared her story to raise awareness over violence against women.

Reegan Kay, 21, was left unconscious and a cracked front tooth after she was assaulted a man as she was walked with a friend.

The Bristol University student said she was then left on the pavement as the man sped off in a Mercedes vehicle.

She said a separate group of men chanted at her while she was on the floor.

Reegan, who studies English literature at Bristol University, said she “couldn’t believe it had happened” and had been left paranoid by the attack near to her home.

Describing the attack, she said: “We were 15 seconds from our front door and a car pulled up next to us and they started shouting at us to get into the car.

“We stopped because we were startled. They were asking where we wanted to go and we were like ‘no, that’s scary, you shouldn’t be doing that to young girls’.

“The next thing I know the guy grabbed me by my dress, dragged me into the car and punched me in the face and I was knocked out.”

She added: “Afterwards I was thinking it wouldn’t have happened if I smiled at them or was nicer to them or was with a male friend.

“There was a period after where I felt so stupid and embarrassed. It really impacted my self-esteem.”

Reegan’s tooth was cracked all the way to the root due to the force of the punch - meaning it had to be removed and left her with a gap.

She now has to pay £4,800 to replace her tooth at a private dentist as her procedure is not covered by the NHS.

Reegan, who is from Durham, shared her ordeal in a Twitter post that has since received more than 3,000 ‘likes’ to raise awareness of violence against women.

She said: “I wanted to show that this has happened to me and it’s not right.

“Women should know that it’s not something to be ashamed of and they don’t deserve it.

“We need to speak about it - it’s shrouded in so much shame. It doesn’t just happen in some far off land, it happens on British streets every night.

“I don’t know a single girl who hasn’t had a man say something explicit or grope her or shout at her.

“These girls have brothers and fathers who aren’t aware of what’s happening.”

The incident happened following a women’s event at the student union building in Clifton on November 23.

She was taken to hospital where she stayed over till the following afternoon.

Avon and Somerset Police were contacted for comment - though it is understood that no arrests have been made in relation to this incident.