• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson handed punishment after being caught in possession of crack cocaine at pub

Home> News> UK News

Published 11:55 29 Jan 2024 GMT

Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson handed punishment after being caught in possession of crack cocaine at pub

The Peaky Blinders actor appeared in court last week regarding the drug offenses.

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson has been handed a punishment in court after being caught in possession of crack cocaine at a London pub on Boxing Day.

The actor, best known for playing tough-talking gangster Arthur Shelby in the hit BBC series, pleaded guilty to the offences on Thursday (25 January) and his future on the upcoming film adaptation has now been thrown into question.

He was supposed to reprise his role as the older brother of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) for a movie based on the Birmingham gang, with the script said to be 'close' to being finished.

Advert

But Anderson's recent legal troubles reportedly have the potential to 'create huge problems' for the production.

Anderson was at a pub in Hampstead on Boxing Day 2023 when police were called to the premises after the manager was alerted to the smell of 'crack cocaine fumes' coming from a disabled toilet, according to the Mail Online.

The Great Train Robbery star was taken to a police station as a result, where officers found crack cocaine, amphetamines, diazepam and pregabalin on him, prosecutor Kevin Kendridge said.

The 45-year-old has been slapped with a fine of £1,345 after pleading guilty to the possession of class A crack cocaine, class B amphetamines and two class C prescription substances.

The actor is best known for his role as Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders.
BBC

Advert

Anderson's lawyer Moira MacFarlane told the court that he often leaned into the habits of his Peaky Blinders character Arthur - who battled a drug problem in the series - when approached by fans in public.

According to reports, she said: "You will recognise the defendant from a very intense part that he has played in a recent television programme.

"He is often recognised and does his best to please fans of the show by slipping into character. He was recognised that Boxing Day and tried to play up for these people.

"And because of the lifestyle he leads people often give him inducements. He has found himself in an unfortunate position and should have had the strength to say no."

She insisted that Anderson had not been smoking crack cocaine in the pub.

Advert

LADbible has contacted the BBC and the actor's representatives for comment.

Paul Anderson pleaded guilty to possession of the substances.
Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

After ten years on our TV screens, fans of Peaky Blinders were looking forward to a film adaptation of the beloved series.

Production was scheduled to kick off this summer, with Anderson taking on a lead role in the movie which follows the rise of the Shelby crime family.

But a source told the Mail that the British star's recent brush with the law could have a 'significant impact' on these plans.

Advert

They claimed: "[Screenwriter] Steven Knight is still writing the script. But this conviction will create huge problems as it will be so hard to have a Peaky Blinders film without such a pivotal character, while it will be tough having him reprise the role as if nothing has happened.

"The third option would be to cancel the entire thing. I think it is most likely to go ahead and only Steven knows which characters will feature."

Featured Image Credit: BBC/Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

Topics: Peaky Blinders, TV and Film, Crime, London, UK News, Celebrity

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

X

@livburke_

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson speaks out about struggles following concern over appearance
  • Peaky Blinders Fans Will Love The Return Of Key Character In Latest Episode
  • Emma Watson was left ‘violated’ after what photographers did to her on her 18th birthday
  • Peaky Blinders Viewers Heartbroken By Tribute To Polly In First Episode

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Worrying simulation shows how nuclear bomb really works as global tensions continue to rise

    A simulation of an atomic bomb has highlighted the alarming effects it can cause

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Explicit 'freak off' text messages between Diddy and ex-girlfriend revealed in court for first time

    Messages between Diddy and his ex-girlfriend Jane after 'freak-offs' were shown to the court

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Donald Trump shares private message with NATO chief with worrying threat to Europe

    Donald Trump shared a screenshot of a recent conversation with NATO chief Mark Rutte

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Everything we know about Iran-Israel ceasefire following confusion over it actually being agreed

    The Iran-Israel ceasefire has already been broken, according to Israel's defence minister

    News