Woman recounts 'disgusting' incident on TTC after subway sex assaults report

Mari-Anne Ramson was revolted by the sight of her winter jacket; so much so she threw it out.

Her coat was a constant reminder of a "disgusting and really upsetting" incident on the TTC.

In March 2013,Ramson was travelling during afternoon rush hour to Davisville station whenaman "shoved his way" on to the subway car. She thought little of it at the time.He later shoved his way off the car.

• Subway sex assault reports are down but that's not necessarily good news, Toronto police say

It was hot on the car so Ramsonhad removed her coat but when she went to put it on at Davisville, she discovered the man had masturbated and ejaculated ontoher coat.

"It was pretty disgusting and really upsetting and made me incredibly angry," she toldMetro Morning.

She immediately told a TTC employee, who asked if she was OK and apologized for the incident, she said.

The employee asked if Ramsongot a good look at the man but Ramson didn't, she saidshe didn't think anything of his presence.

I felt so dirty every time I looked at [the coat.]- Mari-AnneRamson

"Ididn't get a good enough look at him to file a report," she said. "That's the only reason I didn't file the report."

"I wasn't physically hurt so I also thought maybe it would be minimized," she said. "Iviewed it slightly differently myself."

Ramson said she regrets not filing a police report.

"Ido sort of regret not going at the time," she said.

She drycleaned her jacket but ultimately, threw it out, she said.

"I was so upset and angry by what had happened that at the point, Ijustwanted to get rid of my coat."

"Ifelt sodirtyevery time I looked at it."

'Fear is always a big challenge'

There were 56 sexual assaults reported on the subway system in 2015, according to data obtained by Radio-Canada. The figure represents a 16 per cent decline from 2014 but as Toronto police note, sexual assaults are vastly under-reported.

"I'mangry that a creep like that would use our subway system to victimize people," said Det.-Sgt.JoanneRudnick of the Sex Crimes Unit.

"Icertainly don't blame victims. Icertainly don't blame anyone for not wanting to report at the time or later because it's a very difficult thing to do. It's a difficult step to make."

Rudnicksaid there are several reasons why a victim may choose not to report, including whether police will believe the victim, the possibility of being identified or attacked by the perpetrator again.

"Fear is always a big challenge in getting people to come forward," Rudnick toldMetro Morning.

"What are their parents going to say? What are friends going to say? Perhaps, they're a newcomer to the country and don't understand the laws of the land. Iunderstand those reasons," she said.

Rudnick said police are working alongside the TTC ona sexual assault awareness campaignfor the spring, along with app that will help riders report sex crimes.

"We have to work more with our partners so that we make a culture where it is easier for victims to come forward;that they do not perceive these barriers in reporting to the police."

'At least it was me'

Ramson said following the incident, she prefers to walk and dislikes taking the subway during rush hour.

"I'm very aggressively aware when Iride the subway," she said.

She said she finds "comfort" in that it happened to her and not a younger person, saying she feels "emotionally capable of managing it a little bit better."

"There's lots of teenagers who get on the subway on the Yonge line and it could've been a younger girl," she said.

"If it had been me when I was a teenager, Iwould've been devastated."

"It's terrible that it happened to me but at least it was me and not someone younger."