Former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger is reportedly on the run from police in Australia after allegedly stamping on a woman’s head.
Pledger, 30, was at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for a mental health assessment, on release from jail, when he is said to have escaped.
It is not clear how Pledger managed to evade police.
The soap star had been held in pre-trial detention since March 25, Sky News Australia reported, after allegedly attacking a woman.
Footage released by Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday appears to show him dragging a woman to the ground by her hair before stamping on her head.
Pledger is accused of carrying out the violent attack in the early hours of March 25.
Victoria Police received a call from the woman around 1.35am, when she said “he’s coming” before the line disconnected, according to Sky News Australia.
Pledger was arrested later the same morning, and held in remand.
The woman was reportedly taken to the hospital with bruising to her cheek and neck and small lacerations to her cheek.
On Monday, a magistrate is said to have given Pledger permission to attend a mental health assessment, after his lawyers argued his mental health would be at risk if he continued to be kept in custody.
But after being escorted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital by police, he allegedly waited to be seen for around six hours before leaving the premises, in breach of bail conditions.
He is said to have failed to appear at a scheduled bail hearing on Tuesday.
Pledger’s lawyer is said to have told the court his client could not be contacted.
Magistrate Justin Foster expressed frustration at having “bent over backwards” to grant the order so Pledger could receive mental health treatment, said Sky News Australia, saying: “I’ll never make an order like that again”.
A warrant has reportedly been issued for his arrest, and a police hunt for Pledger is underway.
Pledger is best known for starring at Mason Morgan in Australia soap opera Home and Away, from 2016 to 2019.
He is also known for his role as Noah Parkin in Neighbours in 2011.
