ACTOR Johnny Depp rescued a friend from a mugger brandishing a broken bottle in Los Angeles, The Sun reports.

The robber allegedly backed down, saying, "I ain't stealing from Captain Jack," after he was confronted by the Pirates of the Caribbean actor.

Depp - who plays Captain Jack Sparrow in the hit movie series - stepped in when British singer Stephen Jones was accosted for cash as the pair left a recording studio in Los Angeles.

A friend said last night: "It was an extremely scary moment. This guy looked off his head.

"Johnny looked him straight in the eyes and told him to back off."

The 46-year-old star has just recorded a guitar solo for a new track by Jones's band Babybird.

After Depp intervened, the star-struck robber backed down.

"He looked at Johnny and said, 'I ain't stealing from Captain Jack' and put the bottle down. Johnny gave him a few bucks and told him to straighten up his life."

Read more at The Sun.

