A former Home and Away star is on the run from police after he escaped custody moments before appearing in court on assault charges.
Orpheus Pledger, 30, was escorted by police to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, near the city’s financial district, about 3.30am on Tuesday to undergo a mental health assessment.
But a court heard he still had not been seen by doctors at around 9.10am. He then allegedly simply got up and left, breaching his bail conditions.
Pledger now remains at large and police have launched a manhunt after an arrest warrant was issued.
The alleged escape prompted Melbourne magistrate Justin Foster to fume that he had “gone to great lengths” to approve the hospital visit at 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 that Pledger had been arrested the day after he allegedly assaulted the same woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, for the ninth time since 2021.
Security footage of the incident allegedly showed Pledger grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground before stomping on her head.
Former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger is on the run from police after escaping from a hospital to receive a mental health evaluation while facing assault charges.
Pledger was expected to undergo evaluation at the hospital and return to court Tuesday to have his bail conditions reassessed.
But when Magistrate Foster called his case on Tuesday morning, he could not be found.
Pledger’s lawyer, Jasper MacCuspie, told the court his client had escaped from hospital after not being treated for almost six hours.
Judge Foster had granted the order Monday for Pledger to be evaluated when urged by Mr. MacCuspie.
His lawyers said the evaluation could help “mitigate future risks to the community” and get the defendant the help “that experts say he needs.”
But on Tuesday, Mr Justice Foster told the court: “This makes me wonder if I will ever grant this order again.”
He said he was also outraged that a patient suspected of suffering from a mental illness had been left untreated and unattended for nearly six hours.
Pledger’s bond was revoked and an arrest warrant was issued.
The court heard Monday that a triple-0 call made by Pledger’s alleged assault victim warned police she was in the middle of a mental health incident.
The alleged victim was heard saying “it’s coming” before the line was cut, the court was told.
Pledger is accused of assaulting a woman on March 25 and had been in custody since the following day. He is still free
He allegedly suffered several serious injuries in the March 25 incident, including bruises on his forehead, cuts on his cheek, and bruises on his neck, back of his hand, and cheek.
She told police she “believes he will eventually kill her”, the court was told, and supports police taking action over the alleged assaults.
Police prosecutor Olivia Sparrow had recommended that Pledger remain in custody as he poses an “unacceptable risk” to the community while he is homeless and allegedly suffering from mental health and drug problems.
Sparrow also objected to an inpatient mental health evaluation order issued during a bond hearing last week, saying staff cannot physically stop him from leaving.
Magistrate Foster also expressed concern about the order as it meant he could leave without being detained.
‘Clinically, you could take your medications and any treatment you need and show improvement. Then he can be released into the community,’ he stated.
“The risk of something else happening and having dire consequences is staggering.”
The case continues.