Francesca Packer defends her unlikely friendship with ex-bikie associate Mark Judge

Francesca Packer has defended her unlikely new friendship with former bikie associate Mark Judge, after the pair were spotted celebrating her 26th birthday last week. 

Speaking to Private Sydney on Sunday, the billionaire heiress said that Mark, 45, makes her feel ‘safe’, adding that she is fully aware of his ‘colourful past’.

Mark, who grew up near Penrith in western Sydney, started out as a doorman for a Rebels motorcycle gang clubhouse. 

He never joined the club and instead chose to remain an associate.

In 2011, the ‘ladies’ man’ was found bleeding to death on an upmarket Sydney street after he was violently stabbed nine times. 

Mark was found collapsed on the footpath outside his apartment by two friends who were driving past after the attack.

He was spared a full time jail sentence in 2005 after pleading guilty to bashing a furniture store owner and using a brick to crush the man’s finger when he tried to reclaim some of the $70,000 he had lent him.

Mark has since turned his life around and now makes a living as a designer watch seller, with stores in Bondi and Melbourne.   

Francesca, who is the granddaughter of media mogul Kerry Packer, met Mark a few months ago through mutual friend Sam Zachariah – her ex-boyfriend and Mark’s former housemate. 

The pair were spotted celebrating their recent birthdays on Friday night over dinner and drinks at cocktail bar Little Felix in Sydney’s CBD. 

Swimming great Ian Thorpe was also in attendance at the soiree 

Francesca was also seen partying with Mark again last Sunday during her wild birthday bash at The Island, Sydney Harbour.