Orpheus Pledger, 31, on Tuesday appeared in the Victorian County Court where he was instead placed on a two-year community corrections order with treatment, monitoring and 150 hours of unpaid work.
The ex-Home and Away star swapped the black hoodie of his last court appearance for a clean-cut look, sporting a purple check shirt, clean shave and his hair tucked back in a bun.
The former actor was once a TV heart-throb. Photo / NCA
She was found by police still on the ground 15 minutes later and taken to hospital.
He led police on a three-day manhunt after fleeing from hospital the following month after he was released on bail to undergo a medical assessment because of custody backlogs.
Nurses at the hospital described him as “quite elevated” and heard him muttering that he was going to “kill”.
Pledger pleaded guilty to charges including recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment to be followed by a 12-month community corrections order.
But after re-hearing the evidence on appeal, Judge Michael Tinney found recognising the 97 days Pledger spent on remand as time served and a “far lengthier and tougher” community corrections order would meet the sentencing objectives.
He told Pledger the violence on display in the video was condemned “in the strongest terms” but clearly occurred in the context of his declining mental health.
“It is disturbing, it is serious and it’s pretty incredible that you would conduct yourself in this way,” he said.
“It’s you, it’s not an actor, it’s you doing that to your victim.”
Pledger nodded as Judge Tinney said it appeared to him there was a link between his drug use and his deteriorating mental health.
“It seems, if I may say, so the last couple of years you have been drifting … that coincides with the use of drugs,” the judge said.
Judge Tinney said the most recent report from Pledger’s bail monitors noted several concerning issues.
Orpheus Pledger managed to successfully appeal the seven-month jail sentence. Photo / Getty Images
Pledger, the report noted, had missed several appointments in the past month and was exhibiting behavioural changes, including being overly talkative, speaking off topic, grandiosity and euphoria, and had self-adjusted his medication.
He denied he had relapsed into drug use, the court was told, but had not been tested.
Judge Tinney said he was “deeply troubled” by the development, noting a forensic psychologist had found Pledger was at an increased risk of reoffending if he relapsed into drug use.
“His relevant functioning had deteriorated to the extent it’s described as concerning,” he said.
“I don’t know if you’re using illicit drugs, but I do know there’s been a significant deterioration in the lead-up to this court case.”
Pledger began acting at age 9 in commercials and on children’s series Silversun before landing a stint on Neighbours in 2011.
He later took the role of Mason Morgan in Home and Away from 2016 to 2019 and most recently appeared as a contestant on SAS Australia in 2022.
Judge Tinney urged Pledger to take advantage of the chance he’d been given to get on with his life but warned any breaches of the corrections order could lead to a return to jail.
Pledger, sporting a baseball cap and face mask as he quickly left court, declined to comment.
Previously, his lawyer Jasper MacCuspie said Pledger “feels terrible” about what occurred and the impact of the offending on the woman.
FAMILY VIOLENCE
How to get help: If you're in danger now:
• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you.
• Run outside and head for where there are other people. Scream for help so your neighbours can hear you.
• Take the children with you. Don't stop to get anything else.
• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay.
Where to go for help or more information:
• Women's Refuge: Crisis line - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
• Shine: Helpline - 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
• It's Not Ok: Family violence information line - 0800 456 450
• Shakti: Specialist services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and children.
• Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7)
• Ministry of Justice: For information on family violence
• Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services
• White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women.
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