A television star has tackled a predator mid-assault after seeing the man launch himself at a young woman, throw her to the ground and brutally attack her.
Home and Away actor Orpheus Pledger, 25, was walking home from the gym in Sydney’s Surry Hills when he noticed a suspicious-looking man stalking a young woman.
‘He just made a run for her. He ran 10 or 15 minutes and grabbed her full around the body and threw her to the ground,’ Pledger told The Daily Telegraph.
Home and Away actor Orpheus Pledger, 25, (left) was walking home from the gym in Sydney’s Surry Hills when he noticed a suspicious-looking man stalking a young woman
Pledger revealed the horrific experience after 28-year-old Justin Bird was this week convicted of aggravated assault with intent to rob over the April 28, 2017 assault.
Pledger revealed he instantly had a bad feeling when he saw the man on Waterloo Street in Surry Hills, Sydney’s inner-city.
Pledger, who plays a student doctor on Home and Away, said he felt so uneasy about the man he felt compelled to follow him for a couple of blocks.
It wasn’t long before Pledger’s fears were realised, and the attacker launched himself at the woman.
‘My gut told me something was up. I was pretty frightened but the adrenaline kicked in. My initial reaction was for me to step in and to help,’ he said.
Pledger (left), who plays a student doctor on Home and Away, said he felt so uneasy about the man he felt compelled to follow him for a couple of blocks
Pledger (pictured) gave a witness testimony in court in April this year, where he recounted the terrifying encounter with the alleged offender
Pledger gave a witness testimony in court this year, where he recounted his terrifying encounter with the offender.
‘He was trying to run away, but I had a hold of this guy telling him ‘you’re not going anywhere’,’ he said.
Pledger said the woman’s screams were piercing. He said she looked terrified and badly injured as she lay on the ground following the attack.
Justin Bird was refused bail when he appeared in court this week, remanded behind bars to be sentenced for the assault on August 10.
Pledger (pictured) testified in court in April, which helped to convict 28-year-old Justin Bird of the crime