#nomakeupselfie used to show attack victim's injuries

A victim of a nightclub attack has posted a selfie online of her bruised face to defy her attacker.

Oxford University student Jeanne Marie Ryan, 29, was attacked when she confronted a man for groping her on the dance floor of the Plush Lounge, in Park End Street, on Saturday.

She was punched seven times, receiving a broken nose and a lacerated chin.

She has now started a charity donations page to avoid "stewing in anger about what happened".

Since posting the picture on Sunday she has raised £8,000 for the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC).

Ms Ryan, who lives in Jericho but comes from Boston in the US, said: "I was groped from behind all of a sudden [and] he told me to smile immediately after he did it.

"I responded with 'it is completely unacceptable to touch women like that'.

"I think he had not been expecting someone to say anything to him... I fell over after the first three or four [punches] but got back up and I think it enraged him further that I hadn't been knocked out.

"I don't regret saying what I said. I don't regret standing up for myself or anyone who's ever been groped like that."

After spending Saturday night in hospital Ms Ryan said she thought "really hard" before putting the picture on Facebook because she knew it would upset people.

She described the picture as her version of a #nomakeupselfie, referring to the recent craze in which women post pictures of themselves without make-up on Twitter and Facebook.

Natalie Brook, from OSARCC, said the centre was "overwhelmed" by the response and thanked Miss Ryan for "bravely sharing her experience".

She added: "We would like to see all clubs and pubs in Oxford adopting a clear zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment."

Stuart Hayles, manager of the Plush Lounge, said his team was "devastated" that the attack had happened but described the incident as "extremely rare".

He added: "We commend her positive action in showing her injuries and using what was a revolting and unprovoked attack to try and help others."

Police said they were "doing everything" to catch the attacker, who is described as about 5ft 7in tall with olive skin and dark hair.