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Bar brawls lead to kidnapping charges for aspiring NRL player

A former Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league player is tonight behind bars charged over an attempted kidnapping in Sydney's inner west.

Dean McGlinchey was arrested yesterday after a pub brawl on the northern beaches.

McGlinchey, who played reserve garde for the Bulldogs in 2011, didn't appear when his matter was heard at the Parramatta Local Court on Monday.

When arresting him officers realised the 26-year-old was a suspect in the terrifying failed abduction of a young woman in Burwood on June 4.

McGlinchey in his playing days. Source: 7 News

The young woman was allegedly punched in the face while on her way to work.

Burwood Police Inspector Michael Boutouridis said: "she was grabbed by a man and forced into the back of a blue Holden Captiva".

Police have been searching for her attacker ever since.

But a drinking session yesterday afternoon, may have brought him undone.

Around 1pm yesterday McGlinchey allegedly assaulted two men at the Terrey Hills Tavern.

Promising rugby league player Dean McGlinchey is behind bars and is set to face court on a range of charges. Source: 7 News

An hour later together with his father he went to the Time and Tide Hotel in Dee Why where he's accused of hitting a man with the bar stool, so hard the 54-year-old lost his front tooth and needed surgery for facial injuries.

At 2.30pm McGlinchey and his dad were spotted by an eagle-eyed police offficer doing point duty on Frenchs Forest Road near a construction site.

The officer recognised the number plate from last week's failed abduction, but police still don't know what led up to the attempt.

"We're confident that it was a random incident," Inspector Boutouridis said.

"There is absolutely no connection between the offender and the victim."

The bar stool allegedly used in the attack. Photo: 7 News

The abduction attempt was foiled when just at the right moment a trolley collector from the nearby Westfield happened to come past.

He saw the 26-year-old woman bundled in the back of the car and went to her aid, setting her free.

"He stopped and yelled out and we believe that was enough to distract the offender and it gave the woman an opportunity to get out of the boot and run off," Inspector Boutouridis said.

Burwood Police Inspector Michael Boutouridis said there is no connection between the alleged attacker and the victim. Photo: 7 News

The alleged victim described her terrifying ordeal to a Chinese news program.

"He wanted me to get in the car with him. I resisted," the victim said.

"Then he threw me in the trunk and attacked me."

The scene of the attempted abduction in Burwood. Photo: 7 News

McGlinchey, who did not apply for bail, is expected to appear before Central Local Court on Thursday.

He faces six charges, including attempted kidnapping, affray, assault and low-range drink driving.

McGlinchey's lawyer requested medical treatment for her client but did not specify what for.

A 57-year-old who was arrested along with McGlinchey was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Manly Local Court on June 21.

McGlinchey also has suspected bikie links, with a picture emerging of him with two murdered Rebels gang members - Mark Easter, who was shot dead in June 2015, and Michael Davey, who was executed in March last year.