After reportedly assaulting a police officer while already on bail for a different incident, a former child star from Home and Away spent the weekend in jail.
Felix Dean received his big break on the programme when he was just ten years old, playing Ada Nicodemou’s on-screen son VJ Patterson from 2007 until 2014.
When police claim they discovered him at a residence in Paddington on Saturday night, the 24-year-old was already on bail following an incident in January.
Officers were dispatched to the residence after allegations of a fight between two males.
When an officer attempted to arrest Dean, he reportedly retaliated by striking out and kicking a senior policeman in the leg.
He was finally transported to Surry Hills Police Station, where he was charged with assaulting a police officer while on duty, violating his bail terms, and failing to follow Covid orders.
After reportedly attempting to attack and rob a ride sharing driver who picked him up in Newtown on January 6, the former child star was released on bond.
Dean and a buddy had been drinking earlier in the evening at a nearby unit complex when one of the guys reportedly hurled an empty bottle at a window, smashing it.
Dean was charged with aggravated assault with intent to rob, common assault, and property damage at the time.
In a recent social media post, Dean referred to himself as the “OG VJ” and a “work in progress.”
‘From the good life to the hard street to finding my feet… Don’t underestimate me at least that makes two of us,’ he said in the message.
Dean played VJ Patterson, the son of actress Lea Patterson, on Home and Away from 2007 until 2014.
Since being replaced by Matthew Little on the long-running soap, the 24-year-old hasn’t had an acting credit.
Little was cast in lieu of the then-17-year-old with the goal of making VJ look older and more mature as his position in the programme grew more adult with more mature themes.
Ada Nicodemou, who plays VJ’s mother Lea in the show, said at the time that she saw Dean as a “surrogate son” after their years on set together.
Dean was nominated for Best Young Actor at the 2008 and 2009 Inside Soap Awards for his portrayal of VJ.
After the performance, he vanished completely from the limelight.
On Sunday, Dean was granted tight conditional release in Parramatta Local Court and ordered to report to the Newtown Police Station.
Dean must also agree to submit to random drug and alcohol tests and refrain from using any illegal substances, according to the terms.
Dean will also be subject to a curfew, and will not be allowed to leave his Redfern residence between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
He’ll be back in court later this month to face the additional charges, and he’ll be sentenced in November for the incident with the rideshare driver.
