‘It shouldn’t be like that’: Hindley St DJ speaks out following alleged terrifying Morphett St assault

An Adelaide DJ has warned women to be wary in the CBD, revealing a horrific alleged sexual assault by a random man as she left work.

Adelaide DJ Tobi Carelle has seen her share of fights, drunken behaviour and “handsy guys” during her near-decade long career.

But the 31-year-old said she never expected to be assaulted by a random stranger on a well lit city street.

Ms Carelle finished playing at District 84 on Hindley St in the early hours of Sunday December 1 and was walking along Morphett St when a man staring at a wall put her on alert.

Shortly after, she heard footsteps behind her.

“I just heard these footsteps come up behind me and they got quicker and louder really fast,” she said.

Adelaide DJ Tobi Carelle never expected to be assaulted by a random stranger on a well lit city street. Picture: Ben Clark

“He grabbed me by the pants from behind and he tried to push me down.

“It was like time slowed down … I was like, this is not happening … and then when I felt him grab my pants, it’s like f*** this is actually happening.”

Ms Carelle said the man tried to pull her pants down in an attempted rape but the adrenaline kicked in and she managed to push him off, hurting her thumb in the process.

“My fight or flight just kicked in really fast and really hard and I managed to scare him off,” she said.

“We had a bit of a scuffle, (I) kicked him off me.

“I just went full psycho on him, pushed him against the wall and stuff, and that’s when he ran away.”

The man, described as being caucasian with a dishevelled appearance, was seen running west along Halls Place.

Police are investigating the incident but for now her attacker remains at large.

The incident is alleged to have taken place after finishing a set at Hindley St club District 84. Picture: Ben Clark

The incident has left her shaken and she said she was now looking at taking extra safety measures.

“Sometimes there’s handsy guys in the club per se but not someone running up behind you and just trying to rip your pants off,” she said. 

“I suppose as a woman, you always hear about that your whole life.”

Ms Carelle is one of four sisters and said three of them have now experienced “something like this”.

She now wanted to warn other women to remain vigilant.

“It’s just unfortunate that we do have to keep our wits about us … to listen and to watch and to pay attention to people in the distance.

“If you see something strange, don’t ignore it.

“We’re not safe to just be blase.

“And I guess don’t walk around alone.

“It’s not fair and it shouldn’t be like that.”