Thomas Ravenel accuser Dawn Ledwell breaks her silence after the Southern Charm star was arrested

Dawn Ledwell has broken her silence after the arrest of Southern Charm star Thomas Ravenel.

Ledwell, 43, issued her first public statement to People. ‘I felt unprepared and exhausted, as the past five months have been emotionally and physically taxing,’ she said. 

The reality TV star was arrested on assault and battery charges for allegedly forcing himself on his former nanny, stripping her and putting his penis in her face in January 2015. 

Her words: Speaking out: Dawn Ledwell has broken her silence about Thomas Ravenel’s arrest, stating he needs to be held ‘accountable for his actions’; her statement was issues to People

‘I was offered the opportunity to appear at the hearing and give a victim’s impact statement. Although I was scared, I wanted to tell the judge and Thomas what I feel.’

Ravenel was granted a $20,000 personal recognizance bond.

And was ordered to turn in his passport, avoid contact with the victim and not leave South Carolina.

‘Obviously, I am disappointed that he did not receive a higher bond. I am partially relieved that my family and I received an order of protection, so that eases some of my fears,’ said Dawn.  

‘In the past, Thomas made threats in writing to “take out” anyone who helped me regarding the assault.’

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Ravenel attacked Ledwell at his home in Charleston, South Carolina, on January 25, 2015. 

 Sad times: Ledwell, 43, issued her first public statement to People. 'I felt unprepared and exhausted, as the past five months have been emotionally and physically taxing,' she said

 Sad times: Ledwell, 43, issued her first public statement to People. ‘I felt unprepared and exhausted, as the past five months have been emotionally and physically taxing,’ she said

She had been watching his children while he was out at dinner. When he returned home, he forcibly removed her clothes, forced her hand onto his penis and  grabbed at her vagina’, according to police. 

The affidavit claims he ordered her: ‘Show me your p***y’ and asked her: ‘Do you like big d***s?’ as he shoved his penis in her face. 

Ravenel, 56, was booked on Tuesday morning for second degree assault and battery, a misdemeanor charge which carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $2,500.

Contrary to what Ledwell claimed in May this year, the police report does not describe him ‘forcibly raping’ her. 

In trouble: Ravenel, 56, was booked into jail on Tuesday morning for assault and battery

In trouble: Ravenel, 56, was booked into jail on Tuesday morning for assault and battery

Ledwell said that he stripped her and that he was being investigated for first degree forcible rape in an interview with DailyMailTV in May.  Ravenel denied her allegation through an attorney at the time. 

His attorney did not respond to requests for comment about his arrest on Tuesday. 

He was bailed out of Al Cannon Detention Center by the afternoon on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond which means he didn’t have to put up any money but must promise to attend all court appearances. 

Ledwell also expressed her disappointment that the bond was so low, although she was glad her family was granted a protection order.

‘Obviously, I am disappointed that he did not receive a higher bond,’ Ledwell said. ‘I am partially relieved that my family and I received an order of protection, so that eases some of my fears. In the past, Thomas made threats in writing to ‘take out’ anyone who helped me regarding the assault.’

His show: On season four of Southern Charm with (l-r) Craig Conover,  Landon Clements, Cameran Eubanks, Shepard Rose, Kathryn Calhoun Dennis and Austen Kroll

His show: On season four of Southern Charm with (l-r) Craig Conover, Landon Clements, Cameran Eubanks, Shepard Rose, Kathryn Calhoun Dennis and Austen Kroll

‘I mentioned that a fortune such as his will never make me fortunate,’ she added. ‘He needs to be accountable for his actions and realize he is hurting people.’ 

The police report describes how Ledwell was left with injuries on her back and chest by the underwire of her bra which cut into her as Ravenel allegedly tore at her clothes. 

‘[He] undressed and made sexual advances on the victim. The victim grabbed the victim’s hand and placed it on his penis before attempting to remove the victim’s clothing,’ it said. 

‘While attempting to remove the victim’s clothing, the victim’s underwire bra cut into her skin and her shirt wrapped around her neck which caused the victim to struggle to breathe,’ it said. 

Ravenel then allegedly pulled down ‘the victim’s pants and said: “Show me your p***y” and began grabbing at the victim’s vagina. 

‘The victim crouched down to the ground to try to prevent further assault and [he] put his penis in her face and asked: “Do you like big d***s”.  

The report does not say what happened next. It continues: ‘After escaping the asault, the victim called her then ex-husband and sister and told them of the incident, fled the scene and notified several family members of the incident.’

It says she took photographs of her neck and chest which showed her injuries. 

Debbie Holloway Perkins , 54, was allegedly sexually assaulted by him after a 2015 Tinder date

Debbie Holloway Perkins , 54, was allegedly sexually assaulted by him after a 2015 Tinder date

Police saw those photographs and interviewed some of the people Ledwell told, it said. 

In May, she told DailyMailTV that Ravenel was being investigated for ‘forcible first degree rape’. 

She did not want to describe the specific sex attack in detail but said: ‘I felt so humiliated especially when he was ripping my clothes off, you know I was a bigger girl back then – almost 100 pounds bigger – and he’s torn my clothes off and I’m just so mortified thinking am I going to run outside in this very upscale neighborhood in the freezing January without my clothes on?’ she said. 

After the attack, she said she was left with scratches in between her legs, on her arms, back and her throat. 

Ledwell claimed Ravenel used her t-shirt to strangle her during the attack and prevent her from escaping. 

She continued to work for him for more than a year and claims he apologized for the attack after it happened. 

She later told Kathryn Dennis, the mother of his two children, she said, but he allegedly denied it in front of her. 

Perkins took these photographs of her injuries after Ravenel 'held her down' and sexually assaulted her on a bed in 20145 after their Tinder date. Her daughter revealed them and said her mother had been forced to sign an NDA. She was given $200,000 by Ravenel in return

Perkins took these photographs of her injuries after Ravenel 'held her down' and sexually assaulted her on a bed in 20145 after their Tinder date. Her daughter revealed them and said her mother had been forced to sign an NDA. She was given $200,000 by Ravenel in return

Perkins took these photographs of her injuries after Ravenel ‘held her down’ and sexually assaulted her on a bed in 20145 after their Tinder date. Her daughter revealed them and said her mother had been forced to sign an NDA. She was given $200,000 by Ravenel in return 

‘What had really hurt me was that when I was finally able to tell Kathryn he recanted. 

He denied what he did and what he said and he victim shamed and bullied me,’ she said.   

Dawn eventually reported it to police and spoke out after hearing the story of another woman who claimed Ravenel assaulted her during a 2015 Tinder Date. 

Debbie Holloway Perkins’ daughter was the one who shared her story. She said her mother was paid off by Ravenel and made to sign an NDA after the incident. 

Her daughter, who was not bound by the agreement, told how he held her down on a bed and sexually assaulted her.   

The City of Charleston Police did not respond to DailyMail.com’s inquiries on Tuesday morning, nor did Ravenel’s lawyer. 

He recently broke up with Ashley Jacobs, his girlfriend of 15-months. 

Ravenel quit Southern Charm in August this year after the sexual misconduct allegations.

Ravenel has two young children with his Southern Charm co-star, 27-year-old Kathryn Dennis (shown above together on the show). He quit in August 

Ravenel has two young children with his Southern Charm co-star, 27-year-old Kathryn Dennis (shown above together on the show). He quit in August 

At the time, he said it was because the show’s producers had ‘taken advantage’ of him and their ‘right to fictionalize’ his story. 

The network later said it was a mutual decision for him to leave. 

Ledwell added she was ‘disappointed’ that Bravo has not contacted her at all, and that their, ‘statement was delayed until after his arrest.’

‘This is just the beginning of an extensive process that may include a trial,’ the former nanny added. ‘Evidence will continue to be collected and evaluated, therefore charges may be elevated in the future.’

He previously starred alongside his 27-year-old former girlfriend Kathryn Dennis. The pair have two children together. 

Before his reality TV career, Ravenel served as as the State Treasurer for South Carolina but was forced out of the role in 2007 after just five months after being arrested for cocaine possession with intent to distribute. 

He was sentenced to 10 months in a federal prison. 

He ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2004. Ravenel is the son of former congressman Arthur Ravenel Jr.

Ravenel recently split from his most recent girlfriend, 33-year-old nurse Ashley Jacobs 

Ravenel recently split from his most recent girlfriend, 33-year-old nurse Ashley Jacobs 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk