DEDDINGTON SEXUAL ASSAULT UPDATE: Village festival organisers left ‘shocked’ after incident

The organisers of Deddington Festival have said they are ‘shocked and saddened’ after a 25-year-old woman was the victim of a serious sexual assault in the village shortly after the event had finished.
By Jason Pritchard
Published 22nd Jun 2015, 12:48 BST
A 25-year-old woman was found in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul's Church, Deddington in the early hours of Sunday morning. NNL-150622-103947009A 25-year-old woman was found in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul's Church, Deddington in the early hours of Sunday morning. NNL-150622-103947009
A 25-year-old woman was found in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul's Church, Deddington in the early hours of Sunday morning. NNL-150622-103947009

The village event had concluded its eight-day programme with its Deddy Rocks event on Saturday in the Market Place.

The woman was found by police at about 12.20am in the churchyard of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, only a matter of minutes from where the festival had been taking place.

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Emma Noon, chairman of the Deddington Festival Committee, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the incident in Deddington during the early hours of Sunday 21st June. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family and friends.

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“Deddy Rocks in Deddington’s Market Square finished at 11pm, and the festival bars and barbecue were closed by 11.30pm.

“As the safety and security of the event participants and village residents is our priority. Each year the Deddington Festival arranges for security guards to patrol the central village areas, the areas associated directly with this event, during the Deddy Rocks concert.

“On Saturday evening the security guards finished at 11pm once the event had come to an end.”

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Reverend Annie Goldthorp of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church added: “It was a very sad end to what has been a successful festival.

“I only know what the police have announced but I think the village has been hit by it, we are thinking and praying for the victim.

“We are shocked because the festival has been going for 13 years and this is the first time anything nasty has happened.”

Police are currently investigating the incident and urged anyone with information to call Det Sgt Mike West on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.