Actor Orpheus Pledger arrested after three-day manhunt for allegedly assaulting a woman

Former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger has been arrested following a three-day manhunt.

Victoria Police confirmed on Thursday evening, April 25 confirmed that the 30-year-old Austrialian actor, who was wanted on a warrant, had been taken into custody.

It comes after footage emerged of him allegedly assaulting a woman by dragging her to the ground and stomping on her head.

The video, released by Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, comes after the actor escaped from custody moments before he was meant to face court on assault charges, sparking a manhunt.

Pledger allegedly grabbed the woman from behind, causing her to hit the ground, before stomping on her head so hard the impact left Vans sneaker bruising imprints on her face and ears.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pledger was escorted by police from jail to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, near the city’s CBD, about 3.30am to undergo a mental health assessment.

But a court heard he still had not been seen by doctors by about 9.10am. He is alleged to have just got up and walked out, in breach of his bail conditions.

Pledger remained at large, until his Thursday arrest, with police launching a manhunt for him after a warrant for his arrest was issued. 

The alleged escape led Melbourne Magistrate Justin Foster to fuming after he had ‘bent over backwards’ to approve the hospital visit in a hearing on Monday.

The former actor, who played Mason Morgan on the soap for 339 episodes from 2016 to 2019 – had been remanded in custody since his arrest on March 27.

The court heard Pledger had been arrested the day after he allegedly assaulted the same woman, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, for a ninth time since 2021.

Pledger had been expected to undergo a hospital examination and return to court on Tuesday to have his bail conditions reassessed.

But when his case was called by Magistrate Foster on Tuesday morning, he could not be found.

Pledger’s solicitor, Jasper MacCuspie, told the court his client had escaped the hospital after not being seen for almost six hours.