Married at First Sight star Telverne Williams is expected to be charged by police over an allegedly ‘vicious’ nightclub attack that left a man ‘bloodied and bruised’.
Williams, 34, was with friends at The Albion in South Melbourne in the early hours of last Saturday when he allegedly became involved in a scuffle with another patron.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal the MAFS star was arrested by police and escorted out of the packed pub in handcuffs, before being questioned at a nearby police station.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police confirmed on Thursday that charges are expected to be laid against Williams in the coming days.
Furious friends of the victim – who does not want to be named – claim the reality star left their mate bruised and battered with a black eye after punching the man in the side of the face.
Married at First Sight star Telverne Williams (left) is expected to be charged by police after he allegedly assaulted a man at a Melbourne pub last Friday (Williams is pictured on the night)
The victim – who did not want to be named – was left with a severely bruised left eye and cuts to much of his face (pictured)
‘He was standing at the bar at The Albion on ground floor getting himself a drink and he was there with a group of friends,’ one of the witnesses told Daily Mail Australia.
‘A guy (not Williams) has tapped him on the shoulder, so he turned around and then the guy proceeded to hit him.
‘He’s hit the guy back and that’s when Telv has come through and hit my mate with a massive run up and hit him right in the side of the face.
‘He dropped to the ground and then a number of guys have proceeded to punch him in the face while he was on the ground.’
The victim received a cut above his left eye and severe bruising to his face, however doctors have cleared him of any broken bones or structural damage to his face.
They say he has only just been able to open his left eye fully – more than a week on from the attack.
Police were called to the venue and arrested Williams after viewing CCTV footage.
Victoria Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that they are expecting to charge the MAFS favourite.
The MAFS star was allegedly led from The Albion hotel (pictured) in South Melbourne just after 3am on Saturday. The popular pub and nightclub is owned by a group including AFL legend Dane Swan
Just hours before the alleged incident, Williams (right) was in the crowd with his father (left) at the NRL preliminary final between the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks
‘Police arrested a 34-year-old Clifton Hill man in relation to a report of an assault at a licenced premises in South Melbourne on 22/9/18,’ a police spokesperson said.
‘Police attended the address just after 3am. The victim was spoken to at the scene and did not require medical treatment.
‘A 34-year-old Clifton Hill man is expected to be charged on summons in relation to assault related matters.’
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Williams confirmed the incident but said he would not be making any statement.
‘There’s an investigation going on with the police, so I really don’t want to comment,’ the MAFS star said.
Williams had spent the earlier part of the night at the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks rugby league preliminary final at AAMI Park.
Williams rose to fame after appearing on Season Five of Married at First Sight (pictured), where he was paired with Sarah Roza
‘Watching the mighty Storm with me old boy. Thanks again Robbie Kearns,’ he wrote alongside a selfie from the game.
After the game he met friends at The Albion, which is owned by a group of investors that includes former Storm legend Kearns and retired AFL champion Dane Swan.
Once at the venue he was pictured kissing Neighbours actress Bonnie Anderson and posing for selfies with fans.
A spokesperson for The Albion declined to comment on the incident.
In the days before the alleged incident Williams announced he wanted to match up against Bachelor star Stu Laundy in a boxing match.
The alleged assault comes more than a decade after Williams pleaded guilty to five charges after a violent street brawl.
The incident – which occurred in November 2002 when he was just 18 – saw Williams kick a man as he lay on the ground after a fight on a street in Portland, Victoria.
A court heard the brawl began when the victim heard an argument outside his house between his fiancée and an associate of Williams’.
Hours before the incident, Williams was pictured kissing Neighbours actress Bonnie Anderson
Williams (pictured with Anderson) did not comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia
Court documents said Williams was charged with two counts of assault in company, and one each of assault by kicking, unlawful assault and affray.
He pleaded guilty to one count of assault in company and received a 12-month good behaviour bond and a $200 fine.
No conviction was recorded and the other charges were dropped.
In the wake of his stardom on Season 5 of the hit Channel Nine show, Williams began promoting anti violence charity Polished Man.
But the charity told Daily Mail Australia the TV star was not an official ambassador of its brand.