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.
But Anderson's recent legal troubles reportedly have the potential to 'create huge problems' for the production.
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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.
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.
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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.
LADbible has contacted the BBC and the actor's representatives for comment.
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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.
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.
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"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."
Topics: Peaky Blinders, TV and Film, Crime, London, UK News, Celebrity
Olivia Burke