Home and Away star wanted on arrest after failing to appear in court ...
Former Home and Away star wanted by police after failing to appear in court on assault charges
An arrest warrant has been issued for former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger, who allegedly absconded from a Melbourne hospital during a court-ordered medical assessment.
Pledger was transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Monday after being granted bail at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where he had faced charges for allegedly assaulting a woman.
Orpheus Pledger absconded from a Melbourne hospital on Monday before a scheduled court appearance.Credit: Don Arnold/Getty
The actor was ordered to return to court following the assessment but failed to appear on Tuesday.
Footage released during Pledger’s bail hearing allegedly shows him violently assaulting a woman after she left a residence.
The CCTV footage appears to show Pledger following the woman out of the home before dragging her inside. He can then allegedly be seen pushing her to the ground, before raising his foot and stomping on her.
Pledger was a child actor on The Secret Life of Us and played Noah Parkin on Neighbours in 2011, before starring as aspiring doctor Mason Morgan on Home and Away from 2016 to 2019. His most recent television appearance was on reality show SAS Australia in 2022, where concerns were raised over his “erratic behaviour”.
Orpheus Pledger as Mason Morgan in Home & Away. Credit: Channel Seven
Pledger’s manager, Craig McMahon, said he had not been in contact with his client this week but that he had been shocked by the assault allegations.
McMahon condemned violence against women and said that his client had suffered from mental health issues for a long time.
“We are absolutely devastated. This is a young man. It’s awful on every account for everyone involved,” he said.
McMahon said Pledger had previously attempted to access mental health treatment and had co-operated with his management team’s attempts to get him help.
Pledger has now been scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 10.Credit: Darrian Traynor
McMahon said his team had been “roadblocked on every single occasion” by mental health services. He said the Pledger he knew was a “beautiful, creative human”.
“I have no doubt Orpheus has been completely let down by the system, and I can only imagine how many other people out there needing help – and needing help desperately – are not getting it,” he said.
Pledger voluntarily left SAS Australia early in the series after being called on to discuss his lack of engagement.
When asked how he was handling the show’s training program, which is designed to reflect Special Air Service selection, Pledger surprised the show’s hosts by quitting.
“I want to go home,” he replied.
During the show’s exit interview, Pledger said: “Completing a course like this – if it’s exactly what I’m required to learn – then I’m gonna go for it. If I don’t wanna learn it, then I’m not gonna learn it. And if you call that quitting, then that’s quitting.”
His lawyer has been contacted for comment.
Loading
