Melbourne, Australia – Former “Home and Away” actor Orpheus Pledger is facing serious accusations of violently assaulting a woman last month in Melbourne. Newly-released CCTV footage allegedly captures the moment of the incident, shedding light on the disturbing nature of the alleged assault.
Pledger, who did not attend a bail hearing in court, reportedly left Royal Melbourne Hospital during the night while awaiting medical checks ordered by the court. The hearing was delayed from Monday to Tuesday when Pledger was taken to the hospital by police for a mental health assessment.
According to Detective Senior Constable Rhys Phillips, concerns were raised about Pledger’s well-being, emphasizing that “when he is unwell, he is a danger.” The actor was supposed to appear remotely in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to finalize a bail application, but his lawyer revealed that Pledger had absconded from the hospital.
The alleged assault took place on March 25, resulting in the woman being hospitalized with bruising on her neck and minor lacerations on her cheek. Footage presented in court depicts the accused approaching the woman, grabbing her, pulling her to the ground, and stomping on her head. Magistrate Justin Foster remarked, “It’s reasonably clear that he stomped on [the woman’s] head.”
During the bail application process, the court weighed the risk to the public and the alleged victim against Pledger’s need for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Court documents described Pledger as being at “extreme risk of further assaulting” the alleged victim, while his lawyer argued that his mental health would deteriorate if he remained in custody.
Pledger’s bail was ultimately revoked, and his case is scheduled to be heard again on May 10. The former actor gained recognition for his role in “Home and Away” from 2016 to 2019 and more recently appeared on “SAS Australia” in 2022 before leaving the show due to concerns about his behavior.