Orpheus Pledger: Australian police launch manhunt for Home and Away star accused of assault

Police in Australia have launched a manhunt for former soap opera star Orpheus Pledger after he failed to appear in court to face charges of assault.

Pledger, 30, was due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday accused of assaulting a woman, Sky News Australia said.

The actor had been granted bail on Tuesday for a court-ordered hospital assessment and had been ordered to return to court the following day, but didn't show up.

On Wednesday Victoria Police issued a warrant for his arrest and asked the public to help find him.

The force said in a statement he was wanted over an "assault-related matter" and hoped "someone may be able to provide information on his current whereabouts".

Described as "approximately 170cm [5ft, 6in] tall with brown hair and tanned complexion", police said he was known to frequent the north Melbourne suburb of Northcote and surrounding areas.

Pledger's manager, Craig McMahon told the Sydney Morning Herald he had not been in contact with his client this week but that he had been shocked by the assault allegations.

Mr McMahon told the paper his client had suffered from mental health issues for a long time.

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Pledger starred in Neighbours, another Australian soap, in 2011 before joining the cast of Home and Away in 2016 where he played Mason Morgan for three years.

Earlier in his career, he appeared in other TV shows, Silversun and CrashBurn.