Violent Spree lands HOME AND AWAY actor in jail

Felix Dean, once a popular child actor on the Channel 7 soap opera Home and Away, has been sentenced to 20 months of imprisonment, with a non-parole period of one year.

Appearing via audio-visual link at Sydney Downing Centre Local Court, Dean pleaded guilty to a litany of charges including assault with intent to rob and three counts of common assault. The conviction also involved breaching a pre-existing court order.

News.com.au reports Magistrate Robert Williams highlighted that while none of the four victims sustained physical injuries, the offences were severe enough to instil fear. “The court needs to consider the safety of the community,” Williams stated.

In the hearing, the court was informed that Dean, 26, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the incidents. The actor is diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. “He largely doesn’t remember the events, given the drugs he was on at the time, being meth and alcohol,” his attorney Phoebe MacDougall revealed.

Dean’s string of violent behaviour began outside a restaurant in Newtown on April 31, when he accosted a passerby. Shouting threats, he subsequently assaulted the man and another who intervened. A woman who also attempted to intervene was shoved by Dean. All individuals involved managed to restrain the actor until authorities arrived.

Less than a month later, on May 23, Dean tried to hijack an Audi A5 in Botany. Armed with a wine bottle, he threatened the vehicle owner. “Get the f*** out of the car c*** and give me your f***ing keys,” Dean was reported to have said. The car owner resisted and counter-attacked, leading Dean to abandon the carjacking.

The court learned that Dean has been struggling with substance abuse since a young age, stemming from a traumatic event in school. “Mr Dean, outside his addictions, is a very charismatic and smart young man,” MacDougall told the court. Dean himself admitted in a statement that he turned to drugs to cope with the emotional toll, saying he “resorted to drugs to cope with strong emotions” following the disturbing occurrence at school.

Despite his challenges, Dean had previously been able to curb his substance abuse issues and complete his schooling. His time on Home and Away, where he played VJ Patterson from 2007 to 2010, was said to be a “positive experience.” Nonetheless, he acknowledged struggling with the implications of fame. “I wish nothing more than to be afforded the opportunity to do so without the scrutiny of the public and the media,” Dean expressed.

Dean rose to fame at just 10 years old and was nominated for Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap Awards in 2008 and 2009. He will be eligible for parole in May 2024.

SOURCE – News.com.au