American student 'attacked in Cambridge by thugs who thought he looked like Harry Potter'

Quinn Coan, from LA, was attacked by a group of men laughing at his university gown

(Cambridgeshire Police)

An American student from Cambridge University was punched and stamped on by a group of men after being taunted for wearing a gown which they apparently thought made him look like ‘Harry Potter’.

Quinn Coan, 21, a politics student from Los Angeles, who is studying at Cambridge University for a year, was celebrating his birthday on 1 November at a dinner in Pembroke College.

Mr Coan told the Cambridge News that he and two friends then left the dinner to buy chips on Corn Exchange Street.

Just before 1am on Saturday morning, a group of eight or nine men surrounded the trio, supposedly to ask for directions to a local nightclub, Lola Lo.

The group then allegedly began to taunt Mr Coan, who was wearing a scholar’s gown, and apparently made a remark about Harry Potter.

After trying to walk away from the group, Mr Coan said he received a punch to the right side of his head, knocking him to floor, before having his head stamped on.

He was then taken back to the college and on to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he received treatment for a fractured jaw and a black eye.

“It was terrible,” Mr Coan said. “I really think it was because I was wearing a gown. We didn’t approach them. It was a totally unprovoked attack. I just want them to be caught.”

Police have released a series of CCTV images showing four people they want to speak to in relation to the attack.