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ABC News
National
Heath Parkes-Hupton

Former TV host Andrew O'Keefe charged after alleged assault on woman

Andrew O'Keefe is accused of grabbing a woman by the throat. (AAP Image: Joel Carrett)

Former TV host Andrew O'Keefe has been charged after allegedly grabbing a woman's throat before kicking and punching her in Sydney's CBD.

Mr O'Keefe, 50, was arrested about 4.30am on Thursday after police were notified about the alleged incident, which took place on Tuesday afternoon.

NSW Police said the former White Ribbon ambassador met with a 38-year-old woman at his Kent Street apartment about 1.40pm on January 25 when an altercation broke out.

"A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman — grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her," a police statement read.

"The man allegedly assaulted the woman a second time — punching and kicking her — before she left the unit."

Mr O'Keefe was taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of choking a person, three counts of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

When a police vehicle drove Mr O'Keefe from the station just after 4:00pm, he could be heard screaming and thumping the side of the van.

The former long-time Channel Seven presenter was chair of domestic violence charity the White Ribbon Foundation when it was established in 2007.

Mr O'Keefe is no longer an ambassador for the charity, which was relaunched after going into liquidation in 2019.

In 2008, Mr O'Keefe was appointed to the inaugural meeting of national council to Reduce Violence against Women and Children, an initiative of the Rudd government.

Mr O'Keefe is best known for hosting television game shows.

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