Fourth man arrested in Reading murder

Detectives investigating the murder of Reading teenager Mary Ann Leneghan have confirmed that a man has been arrested in London.

Police said that three addresses in south London were searched early this morning and a man in his twenties was arrested.

The man is currently in custody and is awaiting questioning.

Mary-Ann Leneghan, from William Street, Reading, died in the early hours of Saturday morning. Her body was found in Prospect Park. A post mortem examination revealed that she died from a stab wound to the neck.

An eighteen-year-old girl – a friend of Mary-Ann’s – was also injured in the attack. She managed to stagger from the park onto a nearby road, where she flagged down a member of the public who helped her to raise the alarm. She suffered a gunshot wound in the attack and was taken to hospital where she remains in a “serious but stable” condition.

Police have offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack. Up to 60 police officers and staff are currently working on the case.

Detective Superintendent Mark Warwick of Thames Valley Police, who is leading the investigation said: “Our inquiries led us to three addresses in London which were searched by officers, resulting in the arrest of a man in his twenties who is now in the custody of Thames Valley Police. This man will be questioned throughout today. Our main focus continues to be finding the offender or offenders responsible for this horrendous attack and bringing them to justice.”

Mary-Ann and her friend are believed to have been sitting in a white car in the car park of the Wallingford Arms in Caroline Street, between 10pm and 11pm, before they were approached by a group of males and taken to another car, a maroon and burgundy saloon, which was parked in Wickes car park in Welldale Street.

Police say that there were up to six men in the vehicle – some white and some black – at various stages throughout the incident. There was also loud music playing in the car. Police also said that it is believed that the car was often driven “at speed and erratically”. The girls are believed to have been driven at speed to the Abbey Guest House in Connaught Road at 1am, where it is believed they were subjected to “numerous assaults”. It is believed that the girls left the hotel again some time between 3am and 5pm, in the same vehicle, but it is unclear how many people were in the vehicle at this stage. They were then taken to Prospect Park.

Three men in their twenties from the London area were arrested in Reading on Saturday, in connection with the attack, and they were released on bail yesterday.

Police are urging anyone with any information to contact: 0845 8505 505.

(KMcA/GB)