Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger on run from cops as he escaped from hospital after ‘stomping on woman’s head’
A FORMER Home and Away star has escaped police custody and is now on the run after being arrested on assault charges.
Orpheus Pledger, 30, was being escorted from jail to the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Tuesday for a mental health assessment.
The TV star had been held in pre-trial detention since March 27 after he allegedly stomped on a woman's head last month.
A magistrate had agreed for Pledger to undergo involuntary inpatient mental health care on Monday before the actor fled the hospital, a court heard.
He is believed to have got up and walked out after waiting for his appointment to take place - breaching his bail conditions.
The former actor, who played Mason Morgan on the Aus soap for 339 episodes, was arrested on assault charges after an attack that was caught on camera.
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The footage reportedly showed Plegder forcing the female to the ground before proceeding to stomp on her head.
He was arrested by Victoria Police on March 25 after the victim called cops saying "he's coming" and the line was disconnected.
He was held for several weeks before his lawyer, Matthew MacCuspie, argued that his client's mental health was at risk due to his detention.
After the order for a patient assessment was granted, the accused waited at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for six hours with a police escort before vanishing at 6.10pm on Monday.
It is unclear how Pledger managed to escape while under the supervision of police.
His bail application was delayed until Tuesday and he was expected to appear via video link but could not be contacted.
A warrant for his arrest has now been issued.
Magistrate Justin Foster said he would not grant a similar order again after he "bent over backwards to try and offer someone mental health treatment as they require".
The actor was previously arrested on drug charges in 2021 after he was found carrying ice and valium.