Legal Proceedings Begin
Shane Richie, the 62-year-old actor widely recognized for his long-standing role as Alfie Moon in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Appearing via video link from a hotel room, the actor—whose legal name is Shane Roche—officially entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of driving while above the legal alcohol limit.
The charges stem from an incident on the evening of July 29, 2026. According to the prosecution, represented by solicitor Vladimir Silea, police were called to a Tesco petrol station in Church Langley Way, Harlow, at approximately 11:15 p.m. Following the attendance of officers, Richie was arrested and transported to Harlow police station, where standard drink and drug driving procedures were initiated.
Details of the Allegations
Court documents state that Richie is accused of driving a white Hyundai IX35 GDI style 2WD vehicle while exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit. The prosecution alleges that a breath sample provided at the police station showed 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. This figure is nearly double the legal limit in England and Wales, which stands at 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
During the brief hearing, Richie confirmed his personal details, including his name, date of birth, and address in Tadworth, Surrey. After entering his plea, he briefly disconnected from the video feed before returning to address the judge, offering an apology for the technical interruption, noting, “Sorry, I’m in a hotel up north.”
Next Steps in the Judicial Process
Deputy District Judge Christopher Maynard granted the actor unconditional bail until his next scheduled court appearance. The trial is currently slated to take place at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on November 17, 2027.
Representing the actor, Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at the law firm Hodge Jones & Allen, issued a brief statement following the hearing. “My client is not commenting at this time because criminal proceedings are active,” Chada stated. “We ask for his privacy to be respected while the court process takes its course.”
Richie, who gained additional public profile through his appearance on the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, has maintained a significant career in television and theatre. As the legal proceedings are active, further public comment from the actor remains unlikely until the trial concludes.