Shane Richie arrested for ‘drink-driving’ following ‘petrol station row’ as police statement shared

Shane Richie is due in court next month after Essex Police authorised a drink-driving charge following a late-night incident at a Tesco petrol station in Harlow.

The EastEnders star, best known to many viewers as Alfie Moon, was arrested after staff reported a suspected drink driver shortly after 11pm on Wednesday night.

In a video obtained by The Sun, the 62-year-old was seen arguing with workers in the forecourt after they challenged him about vaping at the petrol station.

Shane was arrested (Credit: David Fisher / Shutterstock)

What sparked the Shane Richie petrol station row?

The report says Richie drove onto the forecourt in a white Hyundai. The car appeared to have a flat tyre.

The star was reportedly travelling alone. Staff approached him and told him he could not smoke there.

Richie replied: “It’s not smoking, it’s a vape.”

A worker then told him: “I have to get it on video for the police. That is a vape, and that’s a risk in this petrol station.”

The footage then shows Richie reacting angrily. He said: “What, you’re filming me? All right, I’m going to film you.”

As he walked back toward his car, he also said: “This is not a vape.”

After staff repeated that it posed a risk on a petrol station forecourt, Richie replied: “[Bleep] off. Yeah, I don’t give a [bleep].”

He then pointed at a male and a female worker and said, “You, you,” while waving them away.

What police said after Shane Richie was arrested

Staff called police to report a suspected drink driver. Officers then attended the scene and arrested Richie.

Essex Police later issued a statement about the case. The force said: “A man has been charged with drink driving after officers were called to a report of a suspected drink driver in Edinburgh Way, Harlow shortly before 11.20pm on Wednesday 29 July.”

Police added: “Shane Patrick Roche, 62, of Chigwell, has been charged with drink driving. He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 28 August.”

Why the footage has caused such a stir

According to the publication, the station workers did not recognise him at first.

A source told the newspaper: “It’s extraordinary he behaved like that — especially if he’d been drinking.”

The same source added: “It was stupid and he was also being quite argumentative with staff. They didn’t know who he was at first. It was only after the police came that they realised.”

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ED! has contacted Shane’s representatives for comment.

Read more: ‘Devastated’ Shane Richie on heartbreaking way he was told his ex-fiancée had taken her own life

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