Ex-Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger walks free after appeal win

A former Home and Away star who led police on a three-day manhunt after stomping on a woman’s head in a “disturbing” attack has been spared more jail time.

Orpheus Pledger, 31, faced the Victorian County Court on Tuesday where he successfully appealed the seven-month prison term he originally received in August.

He was jailed after pleading guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court to assaulting a woman on two separate occasions in March.

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The first time, he kicked and punched the victim in the face after she raised concerns about his drug use and declining mental health.

He then attacked her a second time, dragging her by the hair and stomping on her face while she was on the ground.

Pledger was arrested but bailed on April 22 on the condition he undergo a court-ordered mental health assessment. He absconded from a hospital the next morning.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, with the actor on the run from police for three days before he was remanded in custody again.

Magistrate Justin Foster jailed Pledger in August, saying he accepted the actor had issues with drugs but it was not an excuse for the violence.

Mr Foster also raised concerns about Pledger’s lack of insight into the offending.

Pledger’s barrister Jonathan Barrera on Tuesday conceded his client still could not explain why he attacked the woman but said he had since shown remorse.

Pledger’s early guilty plea, limited criminal history and good prospects of rehabilitation should also go towards a lighter sentence, Mr Barrera said.

The barrister argued Pledger had already served 97 days of pre-sentence detention so he should be released on a community corrections order instead of being sent back to prison.

Judge Michael Tinney agreed, finding Pledger had spent enough time behind bars.

The judge set aside the magistrate’s decision and re-sentenced Pledger to 97 days in jail, reckoned as already served, and a two-year community corrections order.

Under the corrections order, Pledger will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work and treatment for drug abuse and mental health issues.

In his re-sentencing, Judge Tinney said Pledger had carried out unprovoked assaults against a vulnerable woman.

“It is disturbing, it is serious and it’s pretty incredible that you would conduct yourself in this way,” Judge Tinney told Pledger.

He noted the actor had missed psychiatric appointments while on appeal bail and had altered his anti-psychotic medication dosages without advising a doctor.

Pledger also displayed concerning behaviour in his bail review meetings despite maintaining he was not using illicit substances, Judge Tinney said.

The judge said while he held reservations about Pledger’s recent “hiccups”, he was still ultimately a 31-year-old man with good rehabilitation prospects.

Pledger looked shocked as he learnt he would not be sent back to prison.

He donned a cap and face mask as he left court and chose not to answer reporters’ questions.