Chilling police call reveals victim’s cry for help as Home & Away star Orpheus Pledger ‘stamps on her head’ amid manhunt
A DISTURBING police call from Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger’s alleged victim has revealed her desperate plea for help.
The woman called police in Melbourne and gave an urgent message before the line was disconnected and he allegedly stamped on her head.
She is said to have called cops and told them “He’s coming” before the line was tragically disconnected.
CCTV footage unveiled the disturbing moment that followed when Pledger is thought to have dragged her onto the ground and stomped on her head.
The actor, 30, was arrested on March 25 and put into pre-trial detention.
But he is now on the run after escaping the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he was being held under police guard.
He had been admitted for a mental health assessment on Monday before sneaking out unnoticed.
Now local police have launched a manhunt to track down the former TV star.
He played Mason Morgan on the Aussie soap Home and Away for 339 episodes between 2016 and 2019.
This morning police issued an appeal to the public amid their ongoing search.
They said: “The 30-year-old is wanted on warrant in relation for failing to appear for an assault related matter.
“He is known to frequent Northcote and surrounding areas.”
Cops published grim CCTV footage of the attack as part of their ongoing investigation.
It shows the woman being grabbed from behind by her hair before she is yanked to the floor.
The attack – allegedly carried out by Pledger – happens just off camera but a creepy shadow against the wall appears to show someone stomping on the victim’s head.
She sustained serious injuries including a haematoma on her head, cuts to her cheek and bruises.
Police have suggested the attack left marks on her face that showed a “similar resemblance” to the pattern on the sole of Vans trainers – which Pledger owned.
The victim told the court she thought he would “eventually kill her” during the attack.
Police manhunt
The TV star was arrested just days after the assault in March.
His lawyer, Matthew MacCuspie, argued that Pledger’s mental health was at risk whilst he remained behind bars.
A magistrate then agreed for Pledger to undergo involuntary inpatient mental health care this week under police escort.
He is believed to have got up and walked out of the hospital at 6.10pm after waiting six hours for his appointment – breaching his bail conditions.
It is unclear how Pledger managed to escape while under police watch.
His bail application was delayed until Tuesday and he was expected to appear via video link but could not be contacted.
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”.
He also expressed concern that a mental health patient had been left untreated and unseen for so many hours.
The actor was previously arrested on drug charges in 2021 after he was found carrying crystal meth and valium.
He was handed a good behaviour order for six months, made to complete a drug awareness course plus pay a £78 fine ($150aud).
He was also spared a criminal record and did not appear in court to face the charges.
Pledger shot to stardom as a child actor at just eight years old after his role in the kids series Sliversun.
He later joined the cast of Neighbours as Noah Parkin in 2011 and then appeared on the hit show Home and Away as Mason Morgan.
The actor chose to leave the role in 2019 and was killed off in the season finale in November.
