Former child actor sentenced

Former Home & Away child actor, Felix Dean, who played VJ Patterson from 2007 – 2014, pleaaded guilty on Monday to assault with intention to rob, three counts of common assault, and breaching a previous court order.

Dean, who appeared via videolink in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court was sentenced to at least a year behind bars for assaulting three people and attempting to steal a car using a wine bottle as a weapon.

News.com.au reports he was using drugs and “heavily intoxicated” when he approached a stranger for “unclear reasons” outside a restaurant in Newtown on April 31. An altercation then ensued.

Less than a month later, Dean tried to steal a man’s luxury car while wielding a wine bottle as a weapon.

The violent incidents both occurred while Dean was serving a good behaviour bond for a previous matter of violence, the court was told.

His lawyer told the court Dean didn’t dispute the facts of the offences.

“He largely doesn’t remember the events, given the drugs he was on at the time, being meth and alcohol,” she said.

The court heard the 26-year-old has been diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I want to apologise to the many people I have hurt and to my mother who has stood by me,” Dean said in a statement to NCA NewsWire.

He maintained his time on Home and Away had been a “positive experience” but admitted he continues to struggle with the fallout of fame.

Dean  (pictured right) featured as VJ Patterson, son of Vinnie (Ryan Kwanten) & Leah Patterson (Ada Nicodemou) from the age of 10, across 831 episodes from 2007 – 2014 before the role was assumed by another actor from 2014 – 2018.

He made other appearances in Comedy Inc, All Saints and Jessica.