Andrew O’Keefe alleged to have left woman with scratches all over arms and chest

Embattled TV personality Andrew O’Keefe is alleged to have kicked and spat on a woman during a “scuffle”, a court was told.

Embattled former television presenter Andrew O’Keefe is alleged to have spat in the face of a woman before kicking her and leaving her with scratches all over her arms and chest, a court has been told.

The 51-year-old is facing the second day of a hearing in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court over a charges of common assault, contravening an AVO, resisting a police officer and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The charges related to an incident in September 2021 at a Sydney apartment, where neighbour Nicole Taylor told the court she could hear O’Keefe singing in the apartment below hers.

“The floorboards were pretty unforgiving...it escalated to the sound of a scuffle almost, there was a disturbance,” Ms Taylor told the court.

“There was loud noises and yelling...the level of noise where you realise something was wrong.”

Ms Taylor told the court she could tell O’Keefe was “aggressive and angry” while the alleged victim was attempting to “calm him down”.

Andrew O’Keefe is alleged to have kicked, spat on and scratched a woman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

Moments later she went downstairs to make sure the woman who owned the apartment was alright, when she noticed “scratches” all over her chest.

“It was the first thing I saw, she was really shaken...her voice, her body, she was in a lot of shock and fear at that stage,” Ms Taylor said.

“She had scratches up her arms and marks on her chest...she was limping and I asked her what had happened.”

The court heard that the alleged victim told her neighbour she had been kicked and spat on by O’Keefe.

O’Keefe later returned to the apartment but Ms Taylor walked him out of the complex, making sure he had a friend to call on and somewhere to go.

When she asked if he was alright, the court heard he said: “what do you think?”.

The former TV presenter while walking into court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

He was unaware of the wardrobe mishap. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

Ms Taylor told the court he was beginning to become agitated again, so she turned around and ran back to the apartment.

“He was flustered and he was angry...his hand gestures and his body language (showed he was agitated),” she told the court.

“It was someone who was not happy about a situation.”

While she was being cross-examined by O’Keefe’s defence lawyer Richard Pontello SC, Ms Taylor was asked about the state of her memory.

She responded: “Pretty good when you walk in the door and see a woman with scratches all over her.”

O’Keefe suffered a wardrobe mishap earlier in the day as he walked through a media scrum outside the court.

Dressed in a stone linen suit and bright striped tie, the former TV presenter appeared polished - except he’d forgotten to zip up his fly.

O’Keefe was wearing a linen suit and a green and blue stripped tie. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

The hearing began its second day on Tuesday morning, but the court was closed to allow the complainant to give evidence.

On Monday afternoon, O’Keefe told media he was “relieved” after a raft of charges were dropped relating to another complainant.

“I’m not surprised but relieved about the charges that have been dropped,” he said, while throwing up a “peace sign” at the cameras – otherwise known as “v for victory” symbol.

Police prosecutor Michael Cleaver on Monday withdrew six charges relating to the incident, including two counts of intentionally choking a person without consent, three counts of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

O’Keefe pleaded guilty to one count of contravening an apprehended violence order.

He spent almost five months in custody on remand after he was charged with the offences.

The former TV presenter is fighting the domestic violence allegations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

He was granted strict bail by the NSW Supreme Court in May 2022 to reside at a long-term residential rehabilitation facility in Port Stephens.

The former TV star has faced a different kind of spotlight since the assault allegations came to light, after a long career with Channel 7.

O’Keefe appeared as the face of many programs for the broadcaster, from Deal or No Deal to Weekend Sunrise.

He served on the National Council for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and chaired the National Leadership Group of the well-known White Ribbon Australia organisation dedicated to the cause in 2005.

He has not played any part in White Ribbon Australia since it was bought out of liquidation in 2020.

In 2017, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his charity work and accomplishments in television.

The hearing continues before Magistrate Alison Viney.