Moment EastEnders star Shane Richie arrested for ‘drink driving’ after telling staff to ‘f*** off’ in petrol station row

A FOUL-mouthed rant at petrol station staff about vaping on the forecourt has left EastEnders star Shane Richie facing court on a drink-driving charge. Shocking video shows Richie — Alfie Moon on the BBC soap — arguing with workers who challenged him about an e-cigarette after he arrived at the Tesco garage just after 11pm. Staff called the police to report a suspected drink driver Credit: SWNS Richie denied he was smoking to staff repeatedly Credit: SWNS In footage obtained by The Sun, snarling Richie, 62, can be heard on camera saying “I don’t give a “f***” after being told vaping there was dangerous. The manager called police, who arrived and arrested the actor for drink-driving. He is due in court next month. Sign up for the Eastenders newsletter Thank you! A source said: “It’s extraordinary he behaved like that — especially if he’d been drinking. “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.” The incident unfolded after Richie drove his white Hyundai — apparently with a flat tyre — on to the empty forecourt in Harlow, Essex on Wednesday night. Staff quickly spotted the star — travelling alone and wearing a red baseball cap, blue sweatshirt, shorts and grey sliders — and came out to tell him he could not smoke there. The actor replied: “It’s not smoking, it’s a vape.” Richie, holding up the silver e-cig, then points at one male and one female member of staff and says “You, you” as he waves them away with his hand. Most read in TV A worker tells him he is recording their exchange, saying: “I have to get it on video for the police. That is a vape and that’s a risk in this petrol station.” The actor — real name Shane Roche — then snaps: “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.” And, after being told it is and that it poses “risk” in a petrol ­station, he replies: “Yeah, I don’t give a f***.” After workers called the cops Richie brazenly took a puff of his vape in front of them Credit: SWNS The soap star has been arrested for drink driving Credit: SWNS He then approaches two female workers outside the garage’s kiosk and says: “Can you do me a favour — tell him to go away.” But one of them tells him she is the manager — before calling police on her mobile. Richie then protests, saying: “Someone’s coming to change my tyre.” On the video, the female manager can be heard telling police: “He started getting aggressive and he started vaping, so smoking an electric cigarette.” Richie, leaning on his open car door, then shouts: “Not smoking a cigarette.” Moments later, police can be seen arriving as the male worker says: “That’s him, that’s him.” Officers are then seen approaching him, with one policeman saying: “Hello, how you doing, OK?” He replies “Yeah, you?” before the officer says: “These guys have said you might have been drinking and that you’ve driven this vehicle in here.” The footage cuts away as dad-of-five Richie, who started his career as a Pontins bluecoat entertainer, walks towards the cop car. The Eastenders star said he was waiting for someone to change his tyre Credit: SWNS Video shows Richie arguing with staff at the petrol station Credit: SWNS It is not illegal to vape on a garage forecourt but companies forbid it, fearing the electronic devices can produce sparks that could ignite petrol. A drink-driving conviction can be punished with six months in jail, but most offenders are hit with fines and driving bans of at least 12 months. Richie has played Alfie, known for his fiery romance with wife Kat played by Jessie Wallace, on and off on EastEnders since 2002. The telly favourite, who came fourth on I’m a Celebrity in 2020, has also hosted shows including Lucky Number and The Shane Richie Experience, and is a regular on the panto circuit. He recently announced new dates for his “Prat Pack” tour with TV pals Bradley Walsh, Joe Pasquale and Brian Conley. Three years ago, he revealed he had been through therapy for his temper after growing up with an abusive father — and said he barely touches alcohol. Essex Police said: “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.” A spokesman for Richie was contacted.