Orpheus Pledger: Home and Away star is arrested after sparking a three-day manhunt – with video emerging of the actor allegedly dragging a woman to the ground and stomping on her head

Former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger has been arrested after footage emerged of him allegedly assaulting a woman by dragging her to the ground and stomping on her head.

Victoria Police confirmed Pledger’s arrest in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday evening.

The video, released by the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, comes after the actor escaped custody just before he was due to appear in court for assault, sparking a manhunt.

The 30-year-old allegedly grabbed the woman from behind, causing her to hit the ground, before stomping on her head so hard that the impact left Vans sneakers with bruises on her face and ears.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pledger was escorted from prison to the Royal by police Melbourne Hospital, near the city’s CBD, at about 3:30 am to undergo a mental health assessment.

But a court heard he had still not been seen by doctors by 9.10am. He allegedly just got up and walked out in violation of his bail conditions.

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

The alleged escape infuriated Melbourne Magistrate Justin Foster after he “bent over backwards” to approve the hospital visit during a hearing on Monday.

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

The court heard Pledger was arrested the day after he allegedly attacked the same woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, for the ninth time since 2021.

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

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

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

Magistrate Foster does granted an order for Pledger to be assessed on Monday at Mr MacCuspie’s insistence.

His lawyers said the assessment could help “mitigate future risks to the community” and ensure the suspect gets the help “experts say he needs.”

But on Tuesday, Magistrate Foster told the court: ‘This makes me wonder whether I will ever make this order again.’

He said he was also outraged that a suspected mentally ill patient had been left untreated and unattended for nearly six hours.

Pledger’s bail was revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The court heard on Monday that a triple-0 call from Pledger’s alleged assault victim alerted police that he was in the middle of a mental health incident.

The alleged victim was heard saying “he’s coming” before the line was disconnected, the court was told.

She is said to have suffered a number of serious injuries as a result of the March 25 incident, including bruises on her forehead, cuts on her cheek and bruises on her neck, back of her hand and cheek.

Pledger is accused of assaulting a woman on March 25 and was taken into custody the next day

She told police she “believes he will eventually kill her”, the court was told, and supported police acting on the alleged assaults.

Police prosecutor Olivia Sparrow had recommended that Pledger remain in custody because he posed an “unacceptable risk” to the community while he was homeless and reportedly had drug and mental health problems.

Ms Sparrow also opposed an order last week to assess a patient’s mental health at a bail hearing, saying staff cannot physically prevent him from leaving.

Magistrate Foster had also raised concerns about the order as it meant Pledger could leave without being apprehended.

“Clinically, he could take his medications and any treatment and show improvement. Then he can be released into the community,” he said.

‘The risk that something else will happen and have serious consequences is striking.’

The case will return to court at a later date.