An arrest warrant has been issued for former Australian actor Orpheus Pledger, who is accused of escaping custody while undergoing a mental health assessment. The 30-year-old, known for his role as Mason Morgan on the popular soap opera ‘Home and Away’, failed to appear in court on Tuesday and is believed to have left the Royal Hospital overnight where he was being held.
Pledger was initially arrested last month for an alleged assault against a woman and was set to face court on Tuesday to finalise a bail application. However, his lawyer informed the court that Pledger had escaped. The magistrate expressed frustration, stating that he would never issue a similar order in the future, despite attempting to provide Pledger with the necessary mental health treatment.
Police have described Pledger as approximately 170cm tall with brown hair and a tanned complexion. He is known to frequent the Northcote area and surrounding suburbs. Pledger has also appeared in 26 episodes of ‘Neighbours’ and was a contestant on ‘SAS Australia’ in 2022.
Anyone who sees Pledger or has any information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. The investigation into his alleged escape and the initial assault charges is ongoing.
