HUNT FOR STAR
CCTV shows Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger ‘drag woman to ground before stamping on her head’ as cops launch manhunt
Police say the victim made a chilling phone call before the actor carried out the violent attack
HARROWING CCTV footage shows the moment a former Home and Away star allegedly dragged a woman to the ground before stomping on her head.
The chilling clip was released by Melbourne Magistrates Court as part of an ongoing assault case involving actor Orpheus Pledger - who is now on the run.
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The 30-year-old TV star was arrested on March 25 and held on pre-trial detention since March 27 over the shocking attack.
But after he was granted a mental health assessment on Monday, Pledger simply walked out of the Royal Melbourne Hospital while under police guard.
A warrant for his arrest has been issued as police frantically search for the missing actor.
The former child star played Mason Morgan on the Aussie soap for 339 episodes between 2016 and 2019.
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Released on Tuesday, the clip shows the unnamed woman being grabbed from behind by her hair as she is pulled to the ground.
The attack allegedly carried out by Pledger happens just off camera but an eerie shadow appears to show him stomping on the female victim's head.
The woman is said to have called the police saying "he's coming" before the phone line was disconnected.
She suffered severe injuries including a haematoma on her head, cuts to her cheek and bruises.
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The court heard how the female victim believed he would "eventually kill her" and has been supporting police with their investigation.
ON THE RUN
The TV star was arrested last month just days after the assault but his lawyer, Matthew MacCuspie, argued that his client's mental health was at risk whilst he remained behind bars.
A magistrate agreed for Pledger to undergo involuntary inpatient mental health care on Monday under police escort.
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He is believed to have got up and walked out of the hospital at 6.10pm on Monday after waiting six hours for his appointment - breaching his bail conditions.
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.
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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.
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In February 2022, he starred in season three of SAS Australia but voluntarily withdrew after just two days.
He left during a psychological evaluation with Ant Middleton and Doctor Dan where they discussed his erratic behaviour.
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