Shock twist after fallen soap star Orpheus Pledger was shown no mercy for stomping on a woman’s head – as he makes late bid to be freed from jail
Former soap star Orpheus Pledger, who fell into drug abuse and violence, will today plead for mercy to avoid spending another six weeks behind bars.
Pledger, 30, was due to appear in Melbourne District Court on Wednesday to begin serving his sentence for his brutal attack on a woman in the early hours of March 25.
The brutal attack was captured on Pledger’s motion-activated camera, which showed him grabbing the victim by the hair, throwing her to the ground and then stamping on her head.
Photos of the woman’s injuries sustained in the attack show bruises on the side of her face that “bear a resemblance” to the sole patterns of the Vans sneakers he owned.
On Monday, he pleaded guilty to a series of charges and was assessed for eligibility for release on community service.
Pledger sat quietly behind glass in the dock as Judge Justin Foster ordered he be remanded in custody for a further six weeks to undergo a ‘more extensive’ investigation.
His lawyer, Jasper MacCuspie, formally opposed the postponement of the case, arguing that his client should be released as he had already served 96 days in custody.
Pledger was initially remanded in custody, but an application for Pledger’s bail and release will now be heard in court at 3pm on Wednesday.
Pledger underwent a brief CCO assessment on Tuesday, which Corrections Victoria said was inadequate given the details of the case.
Former Home and Away star turned villain Orpheus Pledger (pictured) has been sentenced to another six weeks in prison for the brutal attack on a woman in April
The brutal attack was captured on a motion-activated camera (pictured) which shows Pledger pulling the victim’s hair, throwing her to the ground and stomping on her head
Magistrate FOster told the court that Corrections Victoria had asked for more time to prepare a more detailed report on Pledger’s “complex needs”.
“I had hoped the matter could be dealt with today,” he said.
“But given the seriousness of the violation … I think it is right that this happens.”
Mr MacCuspie told the court his client had already served 96 days behind bars and an extended stay would be “detrimental” to Pledger.
‘I understand the complexity of this way… (but Pledger) o“Should be released today,” he said.
Magistrate Foster said Pledger required a comprehensive assessment as it had not been established whether it had been influenced by a ‘drug-induced psychosis or a mental health problem’.
“Your client stepped on a woman’s head,” he told Mr MacCuspie.
The court heard on Monday that Pledger had a successful acting career, culminating in 339 episodes on the popular soap opera Home and Away.
But his career suffered a huge blow when a role in an American television series fell through at the last minute, sending the actor into a downward spiral.
Pledger began to associate with an ‘antisocial’ group and used methamphetamine recreationally, which he admitted in court had an effect on him at the time of the attack.
The victim called Triple Zero and warned police that Pledger had suffered a psychological incident just before the attack, the court had previously heard.
She was heard saying “he’s coming” before the line broke up.
Fifteen minutes later, police arrived and found the woman lying on the ground. Pledger was nowhere to be seen.
Two days later he was arrested and held until April 15, when he was granted one day’s bail to undergo a mental health assessment at Northern Hospital.
Pledger pleaded guilty on Monday to a series of charges relating to the attack and was sentenced on Tuesday to a community corrections order that was found to be insufficient
The court heard on Monday that Pledger (left) had spiralled into drug use including methamphetamine after his soap character was killed off and he lost a role on a US television show.
A prosecutor told the court on Monday that Pledger warned hospital staff several times that he would “kill” the victim.
After waiting for about six hours for a consultation, he fled the hospital and immediately returned to the victim’s home.
The court heard that when a family member told him he was being returned to custody, Pledger replied: “Why? I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Magistrate Foster was furious when told Pledger had escaped from hospital, saying he had ‘tried everything’ to get the bail condition approved.
A three-day manhunt ensued before he was re-arrested. Officially, his bail was denied and he was remanded in custody.
Mr MacCuspie said he understood the magistrate’s reservations about granting Pledger bail given his previous escape, but said he would make an application for his release.
He argued that a “standard mental health assessment” would be sufficient to determine Pledger’s mental state, rather than a further six weeks’ jail sentence.
The 96 non-consecutive days his client spent in prison were longer than the sentence he would have received if he had no previous convictions, Mr MacCuspie told the court.
“Six more weeks of serious prejudice, Mr Pledger,” said Mr MacCuspie.
Magistrate Foster said the time he has spent behind bars was “well within the scope” of a sentence commensurate with the seriousness of the charges.
Pledger is expected to be formally sentenced when he returns to court after the August review.