Former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger has begged a magistrate to “be gentle” after he was allegedly caught with methamphetamines – also known as ice.
Pledger appeared via video link in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on two counts of drug possession on Wednesday, following his arrest by Prahran police in Melbourne where he was charged and bailed to appear in court.
Speaking to Magistrate Hugh Radford, Pledger disputed that details of his alleged crime were released to the media.
“Well, since I don’t have a lawyer present, I would like to keep things out of the media until the case is resolved,” he told the magistrate.
“Maybe that is your wish,” replied Radford, “but the problem is… we were in normal times, the media have every right to sit at the back of the court… so I don’t think I could prevent them from getting at least a copy of the charges.”
Seemingly accepting his fate, Pledger told the magistrate: “Be gentle, your honour.”
The magistrate replied: “I’m always gentle sir.”
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Drug possession in Victoria can earn an offender anywhere up to a year in prison, but first-time offenders can receive fines or good behaviour bonds should they plead guilty.
Pledger’s Home and Away character Mason Morgan was killed in the 2019 season finale after Pledger left the Aussie soap to pursue a career in music.
The shocking news comes after another Home and Away alum, Putu Winchester-Stanton, was charged alongside seven other men for drug offences in relation to two separate investigations into cocaine supply in Byron Bay back in May.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 44-year-old was “charged with 10 offences including supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs and knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group.”
Police reportedly “located and seized approximately 340 grams of cocaine, more than $25,000 cash and other proceeds of crime”.
“In total, seven men were arrested during the warrants and taken to local police stations.”
The arrests came following inquiries in October last year, after which police executed four search warrants at a Byron Bay business and at homes in Byron Bay, Bangalow, and Mullumbimby about 1 pm on April 22.
Northern Region operations manager Detective Acting Superintendent Greg Thomas APM, said of the arrests: “The Far North Coast is continually becoming increasingly popular with domestic tourists, and it is our job to ensure locals and visitors feel safe in our holiday towns.”
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