Physiotherapist Damon Newrick (32) says he is "used to hearing people scream", but when he heard a blood-curdling cry while having dinner with his wife in their London flat in May last year, he leapt into action.
With no time to put on shoes, a barefooted Mr Newrick ran down the stairs of his North London flat "thinking there better not be three of them - and sure enough [there was]".
At the entrance to the flat, he encountered three large men he said were attempting to strangle a woman, who was covered in blood, as they tried to rip out her earrings, which were reportedly valued at $25,000.
Two of the men left as Mr Newrick ran screaming down the stairs.
He grabbed the third and "hit him with a couple of jabs with my left" before pushing him out the door.
The men attempted to get back inside the flat and Mr Newrick sent the woman upstairs before they "took off for good".
Fingerprints at the scene led to the arrest of the men.
Mr Newrick received a commendation for his "exceptional bravery and courage in tackling three extremely violent criminals in the process of committing a horrific crime".
His father, Paul Newrick, was a Hutt Valley police officer for 21 years, which was why he stepped in, Mr Newrick said.
"That's just what we got taught: you help where you can.
"The one thing that went through my mind was, `I can't ring up Dad and say I saw this thing happen but didn't really help'."
The woman moved out after the attack, but Mr Newrick still lives at the flat with his wife.
"The first few nights we were worried that they would come back here."
Mr Newrick attended the University of Otago between 1995 and 1998.
