Former TV star Andrew O’Keefe to make a bid for freedom in the NSW Supreme Court

Television star Andrew O’Keefe will ask the NSW Supreme Court to leave jail for ‘urgent mental health treatment’.

Andrew O'Keefe at the State Theatre in Sydney. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Former television star Andrew O’Keefe will take his urgent fight for bail to the NSW Supreme Court.

The former Channel Seven star has now spent 13 nights in custody, 12 of those in an isolation cell inside the high-security Metropolitan Remand Centre, inside Sydney’s Silverwater Prison.

Sources close to O’Keefe say he needs “urgent mental health treatment” – which can’t be administered inside a prison – and fear for his safety.

In recent years the former host of The Chase has been in and out of rehab and psychiatric hospitals.

O’Keefe’s application comes after police indicated they would file a detention application on Friday for allegedly breaching an apprehended violence order, in a bid to keep him behind bars.

The 50-year-old is undertaking 14 days of protective quarantine inside the prison after being accused of choking, punching and pushing a woman to the ground.

This is former TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe screaming and banging inside the back of a paddy wagon.

He was charged with multiple offences after allegedly assaulting a woman on Tuesday.

Full story: https://t.co/KhJydWGY98pic.twitter.com/4GdUofJ1Sa

— Liam Mendes (@liammendes) January 27, 2022

Police also allege he assaulted her a second time by further punching and kicking her.

So desperate are his lawyers to get him out of prison and into health care, they will bring him before the NSW Supreme Court – the same court his late father, respected judge and barrister Barry O’Keefe, presided over.

O’Keefe was arrested almost two weeks ago at a serviced apartment in Sydney, where he was charged and refused bail.

Following his arrest, O’Keefe was filmed screaming and banging inside a paddy wagon.

O’Keefe appeared angry and distraught, yelling “I’m a victim of crime” as he was taken to the Sydney Police Centre to spend the night behind bars.

“F..k off, get rid of these f..king journalists, you douchebags,” he yelled.

The following day he was refused bail and taken to prison.

Last week, police laid a further count of cannabis possession and indicated they would file more charges.

If he is denied bail on Friday, O’Keefe will face the NSW Supreme Court on Monday if the detention application is granted.

O’Keefe’s lawyer was contacted for comment.