A former Home and Away star who led police on a three-day manhunt is expected to appeal after being sentenced to prison.
Orpheus Pledger, 31, appeared again in a black hoodie at the Melbourne District Court on Friday, where he was sentenced to seven months in prison by Judge Justin Foster.
“This court cannot and must not allow drugs to be used to explain violence against women,” Mr Foster said.
‘It now appears that you are minimizing your involvement and blaming the victim.’
Last month, Pledger pleaded guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault, in connection with two attacks on a woman in March during a suspected mental health crisis.
The court was told that the woman called police at 1.35am on March 25 because she feared for Pledger’s mental health. The call was cut off after she said: ‘He’s here’.
Officers arrived 15 minutes later and found the woman injured and unable to get off the ground.
She was taken to hospital, where doctors found multiple bruises on her face and neck. On her cheek were “diamond-shaped” bruises that resembled the sole of Pledger’s shoe.
Pledger (pictured) was a regular on Home and Away before stepping down from the role in 2019
Parts of the attack on the woman, including dragging her by the hair, were captured on CCTV
A motion camera mounted on a light bulb captured part of the attack, showing Pledger dragging the woman by her hair and stomping on her head.
The court was told that Pledger had previously attacked the same woman on March 1, punching and kicking her when she confronted him about his drug use and erratic behaviour.
In late April he was released on bail to undergo a medical examination, but after waiting for six and a half hours at the Royal Melbourne Hospital he fled, sparking a manhunt.
Nursing staff later described him as “very cheerful” and told police he had said he planned to “kill”.
Pledger was arrested again on April 25 in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir and remanded in custody.
Orpheus Pledger (right) arrives for sentencing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Melbourne, Friday, August 16, 2024
Pledger was released on bail in July and went to live with his father, a jazz musician, in northern Victoria. He spent a total of three months in custody.
Mr Foster had expected to sentence the former TV star on July 3, but instead said it was appropriate to adjourn the case for six weeks so community corrections could prepare a report on Pledger’s “complex needs”.
His lawyer Justin MacCuspie told the court his client’s recreational drug use had increased and the actor’s mental health had deteriorated after he was turned down for a role in US series The 100.
“He feels terrible about what happened and the impact it has had,” Mr MacCuspie said.
“Overall, I have found that he has done everything he can to demonstrate that he is addressing the underlying causes that brought him to trial.”
But Mr Foster said it was now known Pledger had started using drugs six years earlier and denied he had missed it. The 100 had had a big impact.
“It’s just what happened,” he was told by the court.
“Your mental health has deteriorated because of the drugs, not because of an underlying problem,” Foster said.
“The stomping… was unacceptable in any way.”
The former TV star said he wanted to “get himself in order” after his release and had ambitions to make music
Pledger is expected to appeal the prison sentence and said he feels terrible about what happened
Pledger began acting at the age of 9, appearing in commercials and the children’s series Silversun before landing a bit part in Neighbours in 2011.
He would later take on the role of Mason Morgan on Home and Away from 2016 to 2019 and his most recent appearance was as a contestant on SAS Australia in 2022.
Pledger was sentenced to seven months in prison and was ordered to complete 12 months of community service after his release.
Mr Foster said he understood Pledger would appeal.
