Justin Burton

Justin Burton was the son of Liz and Michael Burton, the younger brother of twins Mel and Sophie Burton, and the biological father of Charlie Dean.
Justin's father died in 2001 and the family moved to Hollyoaks with Liz's new partner Richard and his children in November 2003. The children struggled to get along and often feuded with each other. After Richard's daughter Darlene revealed that Michael had committed suicide, Justin entered a downward spiral and became a tearaway teenager. During his attempt to reform, Justin was targeted by his drug dealer Macki. Macki and his friends began bullying Richard's children, so Richard's son Ali took Justin's knife and stabbed Macki. After Ali was fatally struck by a car, Justin attempted to cover up Macki's death. Justin was arrested but found not guilty in court.
After his release, Justin began an affair with his teacher Becca Dean. Becca fell pregnant in May 2006 and didn't know if Justin was the father, or her husband Jake Dean. After the affair was exposed, Jake left Becca and she was fired. Justin moved in and the pair struggled for months until Becca broke up with him. Justin exacted revenge by lying to the police that he was fifteen when the affair began. Becca ended up being sentenced to two years imprisonment and gave birth to a son named Charlie behind bars. Justin eventually admitted to the truth, but Becca was stabbed to death by Fran Hathaway hours before her release.
After briefly ending up in a life of crime working for Warren Fox, Justin attempted to get back onto the straight and narrow. After learning that he was Charlie's biological father, he signed over his rights to Jake in exchange for Jake confessing to one of Warren's murders. Justin befriended Ste Hay and embarked on relationships with Leila Roy and Hannah Ashworth before going on the run after being framed for a fire at The Loft, which supposedly claimed Warren's life.
Justin was killed in a car accident in October 2022, having since moved to Llandudno. Charlie learned the news on social media whilst trying to track him down in April 2023.
== Biography ==
=== 1989-2003: Early Life ===
Justin Burton was the third child of Liz and Michael Burton, born in August 1989. Liz and Michael separated in 2001 and Michael died soon afterwards. Liz told her children that he had suffered a heart attack. Liz eventually moved on, but kept her children in the dark about her new partner until they moved to Hollyoaks.
=== 2003-2005: Arrival and Misbehaviour ===
Justin arrived in the village in November 2003 with his mother Liz and elder twin sisters Mel and Sophie Burton, moving into 21 Eastham Crescent. The family were soon joined by Liz's boyfriend Richard Taylor and his children Darlene and Ali. The two families often clashed, with Justin rejecting Richard's attempts to get along with him. After being forced to work at Richard's gym Body Boost with Ali, the pair began to cool towards each other but things worsened when Justin let Ali get the blame when they set up hidden cameras in the changing rooms.
In 2004, Justin began receiving tutoring from Becca Hayton and was left smitten by her. However, Justin's world came crashing down in August 2004 when - on Liz and Richard's wedding day - it was revealed that Michael had actually committed suicide. He began causing trouble with his headteacher Mrs. Hunter, bullying Ali with new friend Josh Malone, and missing school and home tutoring sessions. He also purchased a bong and began smoking marijuana. Liz ended up taking Justin into school daily, whilst Ali ended up informing the police of Justin's drug usage. On Darlene's 18th birthday, Justin pushed her through a window and - after an incident at school - Liz ended up sending him to boot camp.
Whilst at boot camp, Justin befriended Paula Fitzpatrick after learning that she was planning to escape. However, the pair were caught and punished for their attempt, and Justin sooned realised the error of his ways. Justin returned home shortly before Christmas, but Darlene couldn't bare to be around him. Justin also tried to put things right with Ali, but sabotaged his friendship with Nathan Haywood out of jealousy. Meanwhile, Justin's feelings for Becca were reignited when she became his English teacher.
=== 2005-2006: Macki's Murder ===
In May 2005, Justin encountered his drug dealer Macki, who began to lead him astray. Macki began racially abusing Ali, causing further problems between Justin, Ali and Darlene. After Justin was excluded from school, a furious Liz turned on him and vowed to kick him out of the house. On the last day of term, Macki framed Justin for an explosion he caused in the school's chemistry lab. After later being attacked by Macki's thugs, Justin reported him to Mrs. Hunter. He then visited Becca as Macki sent her incriminating photos, and kissed her when she agreed to keep quiet about them. He then decided to leave school to be with her, but Becca changed his mind.
Fully infatuated with Becca, Justin tried to stop her wedding to Jake Dean by lying about sleeping with her. When Macki paid Justin a visit in August 2005, Justin began carrying a knife on him, which Richard soon found. After being attacked by Macki, Ali found Justin's confiscated knife and confronted Macki. Ali ended up stabbing Macki before being hit by a car, both dying in hospital. Justin attempted to hide the evidence, resulting in the police arresting and charging him with Macki's murder. In the young offenders institute, Justin made enemies with inmate Dean. After a fight, Justin was escorted to the dentist and managed to escape from prison.
Mel and Sophie helped Justin as he remained on the run, and he paid Becca a visit (after she told the police of his plans to see her) to retrieve his passport. Ali's ex-girlfriend Nicole Owen decided to flee the country with Justin, but the pair were cornered at a shipping yard when Mel was followed and Justin was ultimately arrested. During Justin's trial in November 2005, Darlene confessed to having seen Ali stab Macki, and Justin was ultimately found not guilty. After his release, Liz and Richard split up when his affair was exposed, whilst Justin forgave Becca and the pair initiated an affair on Christmas Day. However, Justin grew jealous over Becca and Jake's marriage and started a relationship with Becca's sister Nancy Hayton.
=== 2006-2007: Affair with Becca ===
Having now embarked on a full-blown affair, Justin revived his plans to leave school - especially upon learning that Liz had put their house, 2 Oakdale Drive, up for sale. In February 2006, Becca's best friend Mandy Richardson discovered the affair, but she agreed to keep quiet. After Becca's father Charles was hospitalised, she and Justin went on a brief holiday under the guise of checking on Charles, with Becca refusing to let Nancy join them. Shortly after their return, Charles died of a fatal heart attack. Meanwhile, Mandy told her husband Tony Hutchinson about the affair when Tony gave Justin a trial shift at Il Gnosh.
In May 2006, Becca discovered that she was pregnant, whilst Nicole discovered their affair. She and Justin made plans to leave the village, but Becca refused to go after learning of the death of Mandy and Tony's daughter Grace. Becca decided to end the affair a week later. Shortly after Nancy's birthday, Nicole told her about the affair, forcing Becca to confess to Jake. Jake attacked Justin during Mel and Sophie's 21st birthday party, leading to the truth becoming public knowledge and most of the village turning on Becca. Becca chose to reunite with Justin instead of fixing the damage caused, and Justin moved in with her when Liz moved to Colchester. However, the pair began to struggle when Becca was fired from the school.
Becca struggled to keep a job due to her relationship with Justin, and the pair struggled surviving on Justin's part-time work at Il Gnosh and child benefits. His friendship with Sonny Valentine put pressure on their relationship as Becca began seeing Justin as immature. After Mel and Sophie were killed in The Dog in the Pond explosion in September 2006, Justin began shutting Becca out and misbehaving. After attending his prizegiving drunk, Becca became fed up and decided to end their relationship. Justin was furious and decided to get revenge by telling the police that he was fifteen when the relationship began. Becca turned on Justin as she was charged with engaging in sexual activity with a minor - as was Nancy, who physically attacked Justin in school.
As Becca's court date arrived, Justin was attacked and kidnapped by Jake, who warned him about the effect of his quest for revenge. Becca was sentenced to two years imprisonment and gave birth to a son - Charlie Dean - immediately after the sentencing. In February 2007, Becca's former cellmate Jacqui McQueen began threatening Justin, whilst Justin's employer Warren Fox convinced him to tell the police the truth. Justin confessed and Becca was due to be released, but was fatally stabbed by cellmate Fran Hathaway. Jake ended up attacking Justin, whilst Calvin Valentine evicted him and Warren's boss Clare Cunningham prepared to fire him until realising she could use Justin to get to Warren.
=== 2007-2008: Entering the Criminal Underworld ===
Warren allowed Justin to move in with him as he remained working at The Loft. Meanwhile, Clare seduced Justin to get information on Warren before leading Warren to believe that Justin had stolen the wallet of Sean Kennedy, who Warren had recently killed. Warren discovered Clare and Justin's fling and forced Justin to dig up Sean's body in the woods, before making him relocate it, to test his loyalty. When Warren's sister Katy arrived in the village, she told Clare of her feelings for Justin and Clare decided to set them up. Warren eventually found out and attacked Justin. A fearful Justin confided in Clare about Warren killing Sean, with Warren being arrested shortly after. After his release, Warren told Justin to kill Clare and flee the village.
On the day Justin and Katy planned to run away, Clare ended up being pushed off the fire escape balcony of The Loft, whilst Justin was run over by Warren in a hit-and-run whilst meeting with Katy. After Justin was discharged, he and Katy left the village. They returned upon learning of Warren's arrest for Clare's attack, but Justin faced police questioning about Becca's death. After Justin helped him get off the charges in court, Warren agreed to a truce for Katy. In September 2007, as Clare prepared to leave the village, Justin revealed that he had pushed her over the balcony.
A furious Clare kidnapped Katy and demanded that Warren killed Justin. The pair faked his death, but Clare immediately caught on to their plan and mowed Justin down in her escape. The ensuing car chase resulted in Clare crashing into a water-filled quarry; Katy was rescued but Clare supposedly drowned. In the aftermath, Katy turned on Justin and was left frustrated by his attempts to win her back. However, after Justin rescued her from a carbon monoxide outbreak, Katy changed her mind and they reconciled. In April 2008, Sean's body was found by Newt and Lauren Valentine; Katy left the village when she discovered that Warren had killed him, and Justin discovered her affair with Zak Ramsey.
=== 2008-2009: New Start ===
In February 2008, Justin discovered that he was Charlie's biological father when Jake proved to not be a match for a bone marrow transplant following Charlie's leukemia diagnosis. He decided to help Nancy in her bid to get full custody of Charlie. However, when Warren's girlfriend (and Sean's ex-wife) Louise Summers was charged with Sean's murder, Warren prepared to confess. Justin ultimately decided to sign over his parental rights of Charlie to Jake in exchange for Jake falsely confessing to Sean's murder. Jake agreed and Justin signed over his rights in May 2008. Nancy was left enraged when she later discovered that Justin had changed his statement, meaning that she wouldn't be able to get custody of Charlie.
After severing his final ties with Warren, Justin and new friend Ste Hay began working as debt collectors. The pair struggled to afford rent, but were helped by Leila Roy, who had a crush on him. After an accident, Justin suffered from temporary memory loss and Leila convinced him that he was her boyfriend. However, Justin's memory returned and he continued playing with her, leaving her furious. Meanwhile, Ste was fired for punching his boss, whilst Justin was fired for having an affair with a client's wife. Leila helped Justin with his job search, resulting in the pair growing closer. The pair ended up sleeping together a few weeks later and decided to begin a relationship.
However, Leila became suspicious over Justin's attitude towards Hannah Ashworth after he 'protected' her during a fight with Matt Crosby. Justin found himself unable to break up with Leila, and Leila's brother Ash Roy began dating Hannah, making things awkward. Justin made a pass at a disgusted Hannah and came clean to Leila, who broke up with him. Ash challenged Justin to a motorbike race, tampering his bike so Justin would lose. However, Hannah took the bike and crashed as a result, breaking up with Ash when Leila told her what he did. Hannah and Justin finally began a relationship in May 2009.
Warren and Justin began panicking when their involvement in Sean's death became the subject of gossip, and Warren threatened Justin into setting fire to The Loft. Justin prepared to run from Warren, saying goodbye to Charlie before leaving. However, upon learning that Hannah had gone to The Loft, he went to find her and discovered that the newly returned Clare had set the building ablaze. Justin rescued Hannah but fled after being told that she had died, until encountering her at the graveyard. Accused of starting the fire and killing Warren, Justin refused to take her on the run with him and disappeared with Russ Owen.
=== 2009-2023: Aftermath ===
Warren was revealed to have survived the fire in October 2010. Meanwhile, Justin was not heard from by his friends or family. In 2023, Charlie developed an interest in finding Justin after an argument with Nancy, in which she called him "Justin Burton through and through". In April, Charlie discovered that Justin had begun working at a restaurant in Llandudno in August 2022, but he, Darren Osborne and his foster sibling Brooke Hathaway soon discovered that Justin had died in a car accident in October 2022.
== Kill Count ==
=== Murders/Manslaughters ===
None
=== Attempted Murders ===
# Clare Devine, 22nd June 2007 - Pushed Clare off The Loft balcony as revenge for bad mouthing his deceased twin sisters Mel and Sophie Burton. 
== Rescue Count ==
=== Successful Rescues ===
#Katy Fox, 19th September 2007 - Freed her from Clare Cunningham when Clare drove into a lake after kidnapping her.
#Katy Fox, 11th October 2007 - Rescued her from a carbon monoxide leak at the Hall of Residence.
#Summer Shaw, 11th October 2007 - Rescued her from a carbon monoxide leak at the Hall of Residence.
#John Paul McQueen, 11th October 2007 - Rescued him from a carbon monoxide leak at the Hall of Residence.
#Russ Owen, 11th October 2007 - Rescued him from a carbon monoxide leak at the Hall of Residence.
#Hannah Ashworth, 29th May 2009 - Rescued her from the fire at The Loft.
=== Failed Rescues ===
None
== Appendices ==
=== Residences ===
Address 	Duration
21 Eastham Crescent 	3rd November 2003 to 2005
2 Oakdale Drive 	2005 to 2006
5 Oakdale Drive, Flat 1	2006
2 Oakdale Drive 	2006 to 2007
5 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3	2007 to July 2008
28a Fern Street 	1st August 2008 to 3rd June 2009
Unknown 	3rd June 2009 to c.2022
Llandudno 	c.2022
=== Employment History ===
Job 	Duration
Hollyoaks High School student	Until 2007
Body Boost employee 	2004
Il Gnosh waiter 	2006 to 2007
The Loft employee 	2007 to 2008
Debt Collector 	25th June 2008 to 27th October 2008
SU Bar barman 	29th October 2008 to 3rd June 2009
Restaurant employee 	August 2022 to 2022
== Other Information ==
* On his arrival in November 2003, Justin told Zara Morgan and Abby Davies that he was fifteen years old. This would be later contradicted in October 2006, when Jake Dean reminded Becca Dean during an argument, that Justin was seventeen years old.
** His birthday was established as 8th August in episode 1837.
== Background Information ==
*Actor Chris Fountain quit the role of Justin in March 2009.
*Justin was credited in flashback footage (from May 2009) in Episode 2963 (1st December 2010), despite no new scenes being filmed for the episode.
== Quotes ==
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== See Also ==
* List of appearances
* Burton family
Category:Hollyoaks characters
Category:Hollyoaks Later characters
Category:2003 debuts
Category:2009 departures
Category:1989 births
Category:2022 deaths
Category:Deceased characters
Category:Burton family
Category:Students
Category:Hollyoaks High School students
Category:Body Boost employees
Category:Waitstaff
Category:Il Gnosh employees
Category:Security Guards
Category:The Loft employees
Category:Barstaff
Category:SU Bar employees
Category:Residents of 21 Eastham Crescent
Category:Residents of 2 Oakdale Drive
Category:Residents of 5 Oakdale Drive, Flat 1
Category:Residents of 5 Oakdale Drive, Flat 3
Category:Residents of 28a Fern Street
Category:Book characters