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TV star admits brutal attack on woman

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A former Home and Away heartthrob has admitted beating up a woman during an alleged mental health crisis.

Orpheus Pledger returned to Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Monday wearing a green prison jumper.

He kept his head bowed as details of the attack were read to the court.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty following an attack on a house in Northcote in the early hours of March 25.

The court was told that the woman called 911 at 1.35am to express concern that Pledger was having a “mental seizure” before hanging up and saying: “He’s coming.”

After Orpheus Pledger escaped from hospital in April, police appealed to the public for his help. Image: Victoria PoliceAfter Orpheus Pledger escaped from hospital in April, police appealed to the public for his help. Image: Victoria Police

After Orpheus Pledger escaped from hospital in April, police appealed to the public for his help. Image: Victoria Police

The TV heartthrob started acting at the age of 8. Image: Supplied/ InstagramThe TV heartthrob started acting at the age of 8. Image: Supplied/ Instagram

The TV heartthrob started acting at the age of 8. Image: Supplied/ Instagram

When officers arrived 15 minutes later, they found the woman lying on the floor of her home. Pledger was nowhere to be seen.

The attack was captured on a motion capture camera and shows Pledger grabbing the woman by her hair, pulling her to the ground and stomping on her head.

The following month, he was released for a court-ordered medical evaluation due to concerns about his mental health before escaping from the hospital on April 23.

The attack was captured on video. Image: Supplied by Melbourne Magistrates' Court.The attack was captured on video. Image: Supplied by Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

The attack was captured on video. Image: Supplied by Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Police launched a public appeal before he was arrested and taken into custody again two days later.

Pledger played Mason Morgan in Home and Away from 2016 to 2019 before the character was killed off.

He was most recently a contestant on SAS Australia on Channel 7 in 2022 before voluntarily leaving the show.

Judge Justin Foster has indicated that he will adjourn the case to give Pledger the possibility of a suspended sentence.

“At the moment the court does not know whether it is a mental health problem or a drug problem,” he said.

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