A former Home and Away star has been granted bail to appeal his jail sentence for violently assaulting a woman whose head he stomped on before leading police on a three-day manhunt. / (min cost $ 0 ) or signup to continue reading Orpheus Pledger, 31, was handed a seven-month jail sentence on Friday after he pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court to four assault charges over attacks on the woman on two separate occasions. Magistrate Justin Foster on Friday afternoon released Pledger on bail ahead of his sentence appeal in November.
Pledger, in the early hours of March 1, kicked and punched the victim in the face after she raised concerns about his drug use and declining mental health, the court was told. He attacked the same woman on March 25, dragging her by the hair and stomping on her face. The woman had called triple zero when he arrived at the property and when police reached the house, they found her lying on the floor in pain.
She was taken to hospital with multiple bruises and cuts to her face and neck, with the marks matching the sole of Pledger's shoe. The 31-year-old 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. Pledger claimed his life spiralled out of control when he turned to drugs after missing a part in American drama sh.