Melbourne, Victoria – Former “Home and Away” actor Orpheus Pledger has entered a guilty plea for a violent assault on a woman in Melbourne earlier this year. Pledger, known for his role as Mason Morgan on the popular Australian soap opera from 2016 to 2019, remotely attended the hearing from custody held at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The victim, who remains unidentified for legal reasons, reached out to emergency services on March 25 in the early hours for police assistance as she believed Pledger was experiencing a mental health crisis. Upon police arrival 15 minutes later, they discovered the victim was on the ground, unable to stand, displaying injuries including bruises on her head and hand, lacerations on her face, and signs of strangulation.
Following his arrest, Pledger was granted bail with the condition that he undergo a mental health evaluation at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. However, due to limited resources, he had to wait nearly a day for the assessment, which led to his departure from the hospital and subsequently triggered an arrest warrant.
Pledger’s lawyer, Jasper MacCuspie, disclosed that the actor’s mental well-being suffered a decline after losing out on a role in the US television series “The 100,” prompting him to engage in the recreational use of methylamphetamine, which MacCuspie acknowledged played a part in his actions. Magistrate Foster emphasized the necessity to conduct a thorough assessment before sentencing to determine whether Pledger’s behavior stemmed from mental health issues or substance abuse.
The court adjourned the case for Pledger to undergo evaluation for a potential community corrections order, with a sentencing date set for July 3. Organizations providing mental health and crisis support were also cited for individuals in need of assistance.