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Police have apprehended Orpheus Pledger, the Australian actor best known for his role on the famous serial series ‘Home and Away’, following a three-day manhunt.
Pledger was wanted on assault charges relating to an alleged attack on a woman.
Pledger allegedly dragged the woman to the ground and stomped on her head, as shown in viral CCTV footage.
The actor appeared in Melbourne magistrates’ court on Monday and was charged with four counts of assault.
He was initially detained on March 25 and placed in pre-trial prison.
The movie actor was granted the privilege to undergo a hospital assessment after his lawyer, Matthew MaCuspie, argued that his client’s mental health would be jeopardized if he stayed in custody.
He was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a mental health evaluation, but did not show up.
The magistrate, Justin Foster, expressed displeasure with attempts to meet Pledger’s mental health concerns.
“I will never make an order like that again … (I) bent over backwards to try and offer someone mental health treatment as they require,” the magistrate said.
Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, resulting in a successful manhunt on Thursday afternoon.
The police have not provided any details about Pledger’s arrest.
The actor now has to appear in court on May 10.
Pledger’s assault case isn’t his first encounter with the authorities.
In 2021, he was arrested on drug charges and given a good behaviour order.
Pledger portrayed Mason Morgan on ‘Home and Away’ from 2016 until 2019.
He also appeared short on season three of SAS Australia before voluntarily leaving due to ‘erratic conduct’.
