EastEnders actor Shane Richie arrested for 'drink driving' after row at petrol station
Shane Richie, the actor best known for his long-running role on EastEnders, has been arrested for 'drink driving' after a row broke out at a petrol station earlier this week.
Footage of the 62-year-old, who plays Alfie Moon on the BBC soap, shows him having a strongly worded argument with an employee at the garage just after 11pm on Wednesday 29 July.
Richie, whose real name is Shane Roche, was challenged by the workers for the use of his vape close to the petrol, as he reportedly said 'I don’t give a f***' after he was told that it was dangerous to smoke there.
Following the altercation with the employee, the police were called and according to The Sun, he was arrested for drink driving, and is expected to appear in court next month.
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The incident occurred after Richie drove his white Hyundai car onto the foreclosure but as he sought assistance for a reported flat tyre, staff quickly accosted him for his use of the e-cigarette.
The actor replied: “It’s not smoking, it’s a vape.”
Things then become more heated after one of the workers pulls out a phone to record the altercation, with the staff member saying: “I have to get it on video for the police. That is a vape and that’s a risk in this petrol station.”
Richie snapped back: “What, you’re filming me? All right, I’m going to film you.”
Walking back to his car, Richie then says: “This is not a vape.”
Despite being told that his vape poses an obvious 'risk' in a petrol station, he then is reported to have replied: "Yeah, I don't give a f***.”
Once the police arrived, a female manager at the petrol station in Essex can then be heard telling officers that Richie 'started getting aggressive and he started smoking an electric cigarette'.
But then Richie again tried to deny any wrongdoing and was keen to emphasise the distinction between a vape and a cigarette, as he shouted that at police once again.
Although the London-born comedian insisted that they don't police as he suggested that someone was coming to change his tyre, police quickly arrive on the scene and approach the EastEnders star.
After being asked if he's ok, the police officer says: “These guys have said you might have been drinking and that you’ve driven this vehicle in here.”
The footage then cuts out at that point but Essex Police later confirmed his arrest in a statement.
It read: "Officers were called to reports of a suspected drink driver in Church Langley Way, Harlow, shortly before 11.20pm on Wednesday, July 29.
"On arrival, officers arrested a man. A charge of drink-driving has subsequently been authorised against Shane Roche, 62, of Surrey.
"He is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 9."
LADbible group has contacted the representatives of Richie for comment.
Topics: Celebrity News, Entertainment
James Moorhouse