Deliveroo praises 'heroic' Benedict Cumberbatch after Sherlock actor saves cyclist from being violently mugged

One witness said he 'seemed to know exactly what he was doing'
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Martin Coulter2 June 2018

Deliveroo has praised actor Benedict Cumberbatch for his "heroic" actions after the actor stepped in to save one of the firm's employees from being violently mugged.

The Sherlock star was praised after intervening as four muggers set upon the rider in central London.

A Deliveroo spokesman said: "Deliveroo riders are heroes delivering millions of meals to hungry customers right across the country.

"Their safety is our priority and any violence against riders is totally unacceptable.

Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC show 
BBC/Hartswood Films/Colin Hutton

"We'd like to thank Benedict Cumberbatch for his heroic actions. On behalf of everyone at deliveroo: thank you so much."

Uber driver Manuel Dias told the Sun newspaper that he was driving Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter along London's Marylebone High Street when they saw a cyclist being hit with a bottle.

He said: “They tried to hit him but he defended himself and pushed them away. He wasn’t injured. Then I think they also re­cognised it was Be­ne­dict and ran away.

“Benedict was courageous, brave and selfless. If he hadn’t stepped in the cyclist could have been seriously injured.

"I had hold of one lad and Benedict another. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He was very brave.

“He asked the rider how he was and when he said, ‘I’m OK’ Benedict just hugged him.”

Police confirmed they had been called to reports of a delivery driver being assaulted in Marylebone High Street in November.

The details of the attack only emerged last night. No arrests have been made.

The paper reported Cumberbatch saying: “I did it out of, well, I had to, you know...”

Cumberbatch's spokeswoman declined to comment.

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