TRIGGER WARNING: Violence towards women
An actor who has starred in both Neighbours and Home and Away has received a seven month prison sentence after being convicted of assault.
Orpheus Pledger played Erinsborough High student Noah Parkin in 2011, the character best remembered for being obsessed with teacher Kate Ramsay, eventually kissing her.
Pledger’s biggest role on Australian television was in Home & Away where he played Mason Morgan from 2016-2019, leaving the show after being shot dead in a hospital siege. He also made guest appearances on shows such as Blue Heelers and McLeod’s Daughters.
Pledger was arrested after a drug-fuelled attack in March this year. His victim suffered cuts and bruises to her head and injuries to her neck and hand. Three weeks earlier, Pledger threw his victim to the ground and kicked her in the face.
Following one attack his victim called for help and police found her with bruises on her head and hand as well as lacerations on her face and signs of being choked.
Appearing in court, the actor argued that his life had spiralled out of control after being dropped from a US television series, causing him to turn to drugs.
This claim was rejected by the court and the magistrate said that Pledger lacked remorse for his conduct and a recent psychological report revealed had actually started using drugs six years ago, well before he was dropped from the TV series The 100.
Both Pledger’s lawyer and his victim wrote a character reference in support of the actor, noting that he had been making good progress in addressing his drug and mental health issues.
The magistrate however said “Society is fed up with violence against women in particular. Your actions are worthy of strong condemnation.”
Magistrate Justin Foster noted that there were a number of troubling features about the case, including lies told by Pledger and a lack of insight about the impact of his actions. He continued by saying that drugs could not be used as an excuse for committing attacks on ithers.
Pledger had spent several days on the run from police when he breached bail by leaving hospital before a mental health assessment could be carried out and then later failed to turn up in court.
The actor was later re-arrested and held in prison for three months, eventually being freed after pleading guilty to recklessly causing injury and assault.
Pledger intends to appeal the sentence.