An Australian prisoner convicted of choking and raping a seven-year-old girl in a toilet block in Sydney has died in prison.
Anthony Sampieri was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shocking crime he committed after smoking the drug ice.
After being handed his sentence, his lawyers launched an appeal and cited his terminal liver cancer as reason he shouldn't be locked up so stringently.
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The 56-year-old has since died from that cancer at Long Bay Prison Hospital, where he was getting treatment.
Sampieri was the first pedophile in Australia to receive a life sentence without parole for sexually assaulting a child, which has since set a precedent for future cases.
The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to 10 charges including three counts of sexual intercourse with a child, and the court heard he entered the bathroom that day just to 'shoot up', but made a last minute decision to abduct, rape and abuse the girl when he saw her.
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He was apprehended thanks to Nicola 'Nick' Gilio.
The girl's disappearance in the Sydney suburb of Kogarah back in 2018 sparked worry and concern amongst everyone in the area and Nick followed his instinct and checked on a public toilet block.
It was there he found Sampieri, who was high on ice and had just brutally raped and abused the young girl.
Shocked at seeing the girl tied up, Nick tried to detain Sampieri as he attempted to flee from the men's bathroom.
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The child rapist pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr Gilio in his stomach as well as on the wrist and neck. Despite the concerning wounds, Nick managed to slam Sampieri's head against he wall before putting him in a headlock.
He was assisted by dance teacher Jeffrey Stack, who punched the rapist unconscious and helped detain him until police arrived.
More than two years after the horrifying incident, Nick was honoured with an international bravery award for his efforts.
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He was given the Stanhope Gold Medal at NSW Parliament House after being selected by the UK-based Royal Humane Society.
Only one of these awards are given out each year and last year's winners went to British cave divers Richard Stanton and John Volanthen for their role in the 2018 Thai cave rescue.
The Stanhope Gold Medal recognises the highest act of bravery in the Commonwealth.
Mr Gilio's assistant in the citizen's arrest, Jeffrey Stack, also received the bronze Galleghan Award for bravery.
Featured Image Credit: Anthony Peter Sampieri. Credit: 9NewsTopics: Australia