Home and Away star jailed for violent assault
Former Home and Away star Felix Dean has been jailed for a violent assault, in which he attacked three people, tried to steal a car and used a wine bottle as a weapon.
The 26-year-old appeared in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court via video link on Monday where he pleaded guilty to assault with intention to rob, three counts of common assault, and breaching a previous court order.
The court heard he was using drugs and “heavily intoxicated” when he approached a stranger for “unclear reasons” outside a restaurant in Newtown, in Sydney’s inner west, earlier this year.
Dean, who shot to fame portraying the young character VJ Patterson on the hit show Home and Away, then became engaged in a violent altercation with two people on the street.
Just a few weeks later, Dean then tried to steal a man’s luxury car while wielding a wine bottle as a weapon in the suburb of Botany.
His lawyer Phoebe MacDougall told the court on Monday Dean didn’t dispute the facts of the offences, given he was under the influence when they occurred.
“He largely doesn’t remember the events, given the drugs he was on at the time, being meth and alcohol,” she said.
Ms MacDougall explained the former child actor had become addicted to illicit drugs following a traumatic event at school which “significantly altered his personality during his formative years”.
In a statement provided to NCA NewsWire, Dean explained he “resorted to drugs to cope with strong emotions” following the disturbing occurrence at school.
“Not only dealing with that, but I was also living on the streets, with the shame of knowing I was recognised because of my time as an actor on TV,” he said.
Ms MacDougall said Dean was very encouraged by the prospect of engaging in rehabilitation and had tried to enrol himself in a custodial program.
However, given the seriousness of Dean's criminal record, he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of one year.
“I want to apologise to the many people I have hurt and to my mother who has stood by me,” Dean continued in his statement.
The former child actor maintained his time on hit soap opera Home and Away had been a “positive experience” but admitted he continues to struggle with the fallout of fame.
“Ten years on, when even the character has been replaced by multiple actors, I am trying my best to overcome the challenges I have outside of the show,” he said.
“I wish nothing more than to be afforded the opportunity to do so without the scrutiny of the public and the media.”
Image credits: Seven / Facebook