Police launch manhunt
Victoria Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger.
The soap actor was due to attend Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being accused of assaulting a woman.
Victoria Police have now issued an arrest warrant for the 30-year-old actor.
They said: “The 30-year-old is wanted on warrant in relation for failing to appear for an assault-related matter.
“He is known to frequent Northcote and surrounding areas.”
Manager’s comments on Pledger criticised
Orpheus Pledger’s manager has been criticised for sympathising with an alleged abuser on social media.
Craig McMahon told the Sydney Morning Herald that he was shocked by the assault allegations made against his client and brought up his mental health issues.
Many were furious with McMahon’s comments calling Pledger a “young man” and seemingly painting him as a victim.
“For the record Pledger is 30. I’d hardly call a violent 30 year old man ‘young’,” said one person on X.
“Craig McMahon, you *ARE* part of the problem, your comment is just shite,” said another. “This is NOT a women’s issue. This is 100% a men’s issue.”
“Just when will the message get through,” added another.
Pledger’s manager shocked by assault allegations
Orpheus Pledger’s manager, Craig McMahon, told the Sydney Morning Herald that he had not been in contact with his client this week.
McMahon added that he was shocked by the assault allegations and that Pledger had been struggling with mental health issues.
“We are absolutely devastated. This is a young man. It’s awful on every account for everyone involved,” he told the newspaper.
“I have no doubt Orpheus has been completely let down by the system, and I can only imagine how many other people out there needing help – and needing help desperately – are not getting it.”
Why wasn’t Pledger in jail?
Pledger was arrested just days after the alleged assault in March.
His lawyer, Matthew MacCuspie, argued that Pledger’s mental health was at risk whilst he remained behind bars.
A magistrate then agreed for Pledger to undergo involuntary inpatient mental health care this week under police escort.
He is believed to have got up and walked out of the hospital at 6.10pm after waiting six hours for his appointment – breaching his bail conditions.
It is unclear how Pledger managed to escape while under police watch.
His bail application was delayed until Tuesday and he was expected to appear via video link but could not be contacted.
Magistrate Justin Foster said he would not grant a similar order again after he “bent over backwards to try and offer someone mental health treatment as they require”.
He also expressed concern that a mental health patient had been left untreated and unseen for so many hours.
Pledger was arrested in 2021
Orpheus Pledger was reviously arrested on drug charges in 2021 after he was found carrying crystal meth and valium.
He was handed a good behaviour order for six months, made to complete a drug awareness course plus pay a £78 fine ($150AUD).
He was also spared a criminal record and did not appear in court to face the charges.
Who is Orpheus Pledger?
Orpheus Pledger is a former child star who played Mason Morgan on the Aussie soap Home and Away for 339 episodes between 2016 and 2019.
Pledger shot to stardom as a child actor at just eight years old after his role in the kids series Sliversun.
He later joined the cast of Neighbours as Noah Parkin in 2011 before appearing in Home and Away.
The actor chose to leave the role in 2019 and was killed off in the season finale in November.
In February 2022, he starred in season three of SAS Australia but voluntarily withdrew after just two days.
He left during a psychological evaluation with Ant Middleton and Doctor Dan where they discussed his erratic behaviour.
Source: Sun
