A celebrity-obsessed fan groped “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland on Thursday, before security guards swooped down on the shameless perv and had him arrested, authorities said.
Hyland and the “Modern Family” cast — shooting episodes in Australia — attended a red-carpet event near Sydney Harbour when the attack took place, witnesses said.
The 23-year-old brunette beauty graciously posed for a picture with the fan, identified as 29-year-old Sydney resident Nedal Lakmas, at about 7:50 p.m. local time.
But a moment later, Lakmas grabbed Hyland’s breasts, the actress and witnesses said. Hyland shoved the man away and then, her voice shaking, screamed: “Don’t you touch me there!”
She sternly pointed out Lakmas to security guards, who grabbed the suspect and held him for cops. He was arrested and booked for assault with an act of indecency.
Hyland left the red-carpet event, sponsored by Qantas Airlines, in tears and apologized to “Modern” fans who didn’t get the chance to meet her.
“Sorry to all the fans outside the #qantas event that I didn’t get to say hi to but I had to leave due to an inappropriate touch of a fan,” Hyland tweeted about an hour later.
Hyland’s boyfriend, actor Matt Prokop, wished ill will on the creepy, touchy fan. “To the a–hole who assaulted Sarah tonight I hope to God you don’t see next week,” Prokop tweeted.
The actor said Hyland had been looking forward to the event.
“All Sarah wanted to do tonight was say hi to the girls who were waiting outside one douche can ruin it for everyone. Goodnight,” Prokop tweeted.
Lakmas posted bail and was ordered to appear in court on March 14. The Sydney man apparently hasn’t had much luck with the ladies lately, posting on Facebook earlier this week: “I want a actually GIRLFRIEND can someone set me up with one:)”
Lakmas also uses Facebook to show off his collection of celebrity pictures. He’s posted snaps of himself with singers Lorde and Katy Perry and actors Kirsten Dunst and Geoffrey Rush.
He also boasted about an autograph from Angelina Jolie, who signed the cover of a magazine with her picture on it.
The star-loving man lamented not getting a picture of himself with Jolie. He captioned the picture: “My signarture [sic] with angelina Jolie wished I got a photo with her more better.”
The “Modern Family” cast arrived in Australia on Tuesday for two weeks of shooting, set around a family vacation.
Hyland plays Haley, a ditzy teenager, on the popular ABC sitcom.