A former Home and Away star who led police on a three-day manhunt is expected to appeal after he was sentenced to jail. Orpheus Pledger, 31, returned to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday wearing a black hoodie, where he was sentenced to seven months of imprisonment by Magistrate Justin Foster. “This court does not and can not allow the use of drugs to explain violence against women,” Mr Foster said.
“It now transpires you mostly minimise your involvement and blame the victim.” Last month, Pledger pleaded guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault, relating to two attacks on a woman in March during a suspected mental health crisis. The court was told the woman called police at 1.
35am on March 25 amid fears for Pledger’s mental health, with the line disconnecting after she said; “he’s here”. Officers arrived 15 minutes later to find the woman injured and unable to get off the floor. She was taken to hospital where doctors observed multiple bruises to her face and neck, with “diamond-shaped” bruising on her cheek matching the sole of Pledger’s shoe.
A motion-capture camera screwed into a light bulb captured part of the attack, with Pledger seen dragging the woman by the hair and stomping on her head. The court was told Pledger had previously assaulted the same woman on March 1, punching and kicking her when she confronted him about his drug use and erratic behaviour. He was released on bail in late April to undergo a medi.