Scott Michael Antrobus pleads guilty to horrific assault on mother in Rundle Mall

A man has come clean on his “brazen and entirely unprovoked” attack of a mother in front of her daughter in the CBD, before he was tackled to the ground by a hero bystander. Video: 7NEWS Adelaide

A man has come clean on his horrific attack of a mother in Adelaide’s busiest shopping strip before he was tackled to the ground by a good Samaritan.

Scott Michael Antrobus, 38, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to assault causing harm after he attacked a mother in front of her child.

The shocking incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon in Rundle Mall in March when a 43-year-old mother from North Adelaide was chased and struck by Antrobus as her nine-year-old daughter watched on in fear.

On Tuesday, the court heard Antrobus kicked the victim to her leg and back, before he hit her at least twice to the back of the head, causing immediate pain.

She was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after suffering contusions.

Neither the victim nor her child were known to Antrobus, who was tackled to the ground by a good Samaritan known as “Sang”.

Sang was sitting with his family in the mall watching buskers before he heroically hip-and-shouldered Antrobus, flooring him instantly.

Following the take-down, scores of bystanders jumped on Antrobus to subdue him before police arrived.

The court heard Antrobus resisted police and attempted to escape their grasp when they arrived on scene.

The extraordinary moment a good Samaritan used his hip and shoulder to knock down a thug accused of a violent attack in Rundle Mall. Picture: 7NEWS

Scott Antrobus pleaded guilty to assaulting a mother in Rundle Mall. Picture: 7NEWS

Antrobus also pleaded guilty earlier to other offending, including hinder police, theft and possessing a controlled drug and equipment.

Rachel Regester, for Antrobus, told the court her client was experiencing chronic homelessness and had relapsed back into drug use after being released from custody in November.

Ms Regester said Antrobus, a diagnosed schizophrenic, conceded his assault was brazen and entirely unprovoked.

“He was shocked, he had no memory of it,” she said,

The court heard Antrobus wrote in his letter of apology that he hearing voices telling him to hurt people, which was accepted was drug induced.

Magistrate John Clover will sentence Antrobus, who has 38 pages of criminal history, next month.

Originally published as Scott Michael Antrobus pleads guilty to horrific assault on mother in Rundle Mall