The Omen star who played devil-child Damien avoids jail – on Friday 13th – for punching cyclists in road rage attack
THE child actor who played Damien in The Omen and punched two cyclists in a road rage attack has avoided jail — on Friday the 13th.
Harvey Spencer Stephens, 46, got out of his flash Audi RS6 to thump the men — smashing one of their helmets.
The dad-of-one was today handed a 12 months prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to pay £2120 in compensation to victims and carry out 150 hours in unpaid work after he admitted his guilt at Maidstone Crown Court on December 8.
Stephens admitted two counts of ABH and one of criminal damage after the assault on Toys Hill, near Westerham, Kent, on August 21 last year.
Judge Martin Joy said: "This was undeniably a serious case of road rage.
"Quite plainly a serious attack."
In mitigation, Ben Irwin said: "He achieved some success in his life. As a child he was an actor, but that was not s route a he chose to go down and he became a futures trader."
Stephens became world famous when he took on the role of devil child Damien Thorn in the 1976 cult classic movie — where in one scene he circles demonically on a tricycle.
Stephens appearance in court on Friday the 13th is one of a number of spooky coincidences happening today.
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William Peter Blatty’s death was confirmed on social media by the film’s director William Friedkin today.
He passed away yesterday, but news of his death only emerged today.
A source said: “This was a road rage offence in which he brutally assaulted two middle-aged cyclists without provocation.
“They had been out on a Sunday bike ride when he lost his rag and attacked — punching them in the head and damaging one of the cyclists’ helmets, which was worth £120.
He lost his rag and punched them in head
“Kent Police investigated the incident, arresting Stephens a week or so later.”
Toys Hill is a steep climb popular with cyclists. The summit is 235 metres above sea level.
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Stephens was just four years old when he was picked for the role of Damien.
It required him to have his blond hair dyed dark brown.
He got the part after he attacked director Richard Donner on command — even punching him in the testicles.
In the film he played the antichrist child who attacked his parents, and killed off other characters by suicide or murder.
Stephens appeared alongside American screen stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick.
Despite the film’s success, his acting career never took off — although he did have a cameo appearance in the 2006 remake.
In an interview in 2007, Stephens said: “It was good, but I was only five, a lot of it went over my head. It wasn’t a big deal. It was good while it lasted.”
Rumours of a curse surrounding The Omen have circulated for 30 years after a series of deaths, injuries and near-misses involving people linked to the film.
Recently Stephens had been working at his own security firm which went into liquidation at the end of last year.
He has previously described himself as a property developer.
When The Sun approached Stephens at his £300,000 flat in Edenbridge, Kent, he said: “No comment.”