Oscar Branning brutally assaults Patrick Trueman on EastEnders next week, when the teenager’s plan to rob No.20 for cash ends in catastrophe.

During a tense exchange with Mike – the thug who’s after him – Oscar learns that he needs to hand over £5,000 to secure his family’s safety. And it soon seems like his prayers have been answered when he chances upon Patrick following a big win at the betting shop…

“Oscar spots Patrick coming out of the bookies with a wad of cash,” Pierre Moullier, who plays the teen, reveals. “In his desperation, Oscar decides to steal it.

“It’s the last thing he wants to do, but he’s deeply concerned by Mike and feeling quite alone in this. In his head, he thinks that Patrick wasn’t expecting to have this money, so it won’t hurt him if Oscar takes it.

“He thinks he can get in, take the money and get out with nobody being any the wiser…”

Clad in all black, Oscar creeps into Patrick’s home and searches for the hefty sum of money. However, Patrick catches him in the act – leading Oscar to impulsively shove the 85-year-old to the floor.

Hitting the ground, Patrick falls unconscious, sending the troubled teen into a panic.

Terrified, Oscar attempts to dash, but Howie Danes returns home at the same moment. The Branning boy hides in the nick of time, before making his escape without letting Howie catch a glimpse of his guilty face.

“Oscar has done some bad things, but he’s not a bad person,” insists Pierre. “What he does by breaking into Patrick’s house and pushing him is awful, but Oscar would be the first to admit that.

“From his point of view, it was the situation forcing him to do this and when the situation spirals out of control, Oscar just runs away and shuts it down, which is a very bad thing to do and puts him in more trouble!”

Later, Kim and Denise Fox are stunned when they arrive home to the chaotic scene, before devastated Yolande Trueman and the family make their way to Walford General.

Meanwhile, Lauren Branning feels suspicious when Oscar expresses concern for Patrick. And it’s not long until she uncovers the terrible truth, as she later confronts her brother with the stolen loot while he prepares to skip town.

Later in the week, Yolande, Kim and Denise feel nervous as they wait for an update on Patrick. Simultaneously, the police arrive at the Truemans’ to record a witness statement from Howie, before conducting enquiries around Albert Square.

Behind closed doors, Oscar feels mortified by the seriousness of the investigation as Lauren lambasts him for his recklessness.

As Oscar feels the urge to leave Walford, could this be the last we see of him?