Shane Richie was filmed arguing with petrol-station workers and refusing to stop vaping shortly before police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of drink driving.
The EastEnders actor repeatedly insisted that he was not smoking as employees warned him that using an e-cigarette on the forecourt presented a safety risk.
Footage from the confrontation shows Richie swearing at staff, objecting to being recorded and continuing to hold the vape while the station manager contacted police.
Essex Police later confirmed that Richie, whose legal surname is Roche, had been charged with drink driving and ordered to appear in court in September. The charge has not been proven.
Shane Richie Refuses to Stop Vaping at Petrol Station
The incident unfolded at a Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex, shortly after Richie arrived in a white Hyundai on the night of Wednesday, July 29. The 62-year-old actor was wearing a red baseball cap, blue sweatshirt, shorts and gray sliders as he stood beside the vehicle, which appeared to have a flat tire.
In footage published by Metro, employees approach Richie and tell him that he cannot use the silver e-cigarette on the forecourt. “It’s not smoking, it’s a vape,” he responds. One employee explains that he is recording the exchange for police and says the device presents a risk at the petrol station.
Richie challenges the worker over the recording and says he will begin filming him in return. As he walks back toward his car, he claims, “This is not a vape,” while still holding the device.
Richie Swears at Workers During the Confrontation
The exchange becomes increasingly heated as employees continue asking Richie to stop using the device. “F*** off. Yeah, I don’t give a f***,” he says in the footage obtained by The Sun. Richie then approaches two women outside the station kiosk and asks one of them to tell the male employee to leave him alone.
One woman identifies herself as the manager and begins speaking with police by phone. Richie explains that somebody is coming to change his tire, while the manager tells the call handler that he had become aggressive and continued vaping after being challenged. When she describes the device as an electronic cigarette, Richie shouts that he is “not smoking a cigarette.”
Police Arrive After Staff Report a Suspected Drink-Driver
Officers arrive at the forecourt moments later as an employee points Richie out to them. One officer initially greets the actor before explaining why police were called.
“These guys have said you might have been drinking and that you’ve driven this vehicle in here,” the officer tells him. The video then shows Richie walking toward a police vehicle before ending. Station workers reportedly did not recognize Richie during the confrontation and realized who he was only after police arrived.
Essex Police Charge Richie With Drink Driving
Essex Police said officers were called to reports of a suspected drink-driver in the Church Langley Way area of Harlow shortly before 11:20 p.m. “On arrival, officers arrested a man,” the force said in a statement reported by The Standard.
Police subsequently authorized a drink-driving charge against Shane Roche, 62, of Tadworth, Surrey. Richie is scheduled to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 9. He has not entered a plea, and police have not publicly disclosed the evidence supporting the charge.
Richie Has Played Alfie Moon for More Than Two Decades
Richie is best known for portraying Alfie Moon on the BBC soap EastEnders, a role he first took on in 2002. The character became closely associated with the Queen Victoria pub and his turbulent relationship with Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace.
Richie has left and returned to the series several times, most recently resuming the role in 2022. Outside the soap, he has presented programs including Lucky Numbers and The Shane Richie Experience. He also finished fourth on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2020.
Richie is scheduled to tour with Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley and Joe Pasquale in The Prat Pack’s Back. Neither the BBC nor the production had publicly announced a change to his upcoming work following the charge.
Richie Previously Discussed Therapy for His Temper
Richie has previously spoken about undergoing therapy to address his temper and experiences from his childhood. He said he grew up with an abusive father and later recognized that unresolved anger was affecting his adult life. He has also previously claimed that he rarely drinks alcohol.