Man who ‘attacked’ Erica Moloney caught after she posts his picture to Facebook

WHEN Erica Moloney walked out of the gym on Wednesday night the last thing she expected was to be punched in the face by a random stranger. She got mad, then she got even.

Erica Moloney posted this picture to Facebook after she was allegedly punched in the face.

WHEN Erica Moloney walked out of the gym on Wednesday night the last thing she expected was to be punched in the face by a random stranger.

She got mad, then she got even.

The 32-year-old from Toorak said she was leaving the gym in Melbourne’s CBD in Flinders Lane about 8pm on Wednesday when she was allegedly punched in an unprovoked attack.

Bloodied and dazed, she then chased after him and took his photograph and posted it online.

Erica Moloney posted this picture to Facebook after she was allegedly punched in the face.

Admitting she was “possibly stupid” to run after him she said she wanted to know why he hit her.

Ms Moloney said she was then threatened further and asked: “Want a fresh one ya stupid b****”

“I was supposed to post a black & white photo tonight but I wanted Facebook to see in full colour the disgusting impact of violence against women,” she posted.

“If you see this (blurry) monster keep a safe distance & maybe call the cops.”

A short time later she was with a friend while giving her statement to police. The man walked past, and the friend recognised him from Ms Moloney’s Facebook post. She alerted the police, who arrested him, Fairfax reports.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed to news.com.au that a 33-year-old Queensland man had been arrested in relation to two alleged attacks on Flinders Lane on Wednesday night.

The spokeswoman said a 44-year-old-man was also treated by paramedics after being randomly attacked around the same time as Ms Moloney.

She said the man, Joe Fowden, was charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury and two counts of recklessly causing serious injury.

He was also charged with two counts of unlawful assault and one count of being drunk in public.

Fowden was remanded to appear in custody and is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 15.