The Bill star Jeff Stewart found himself stepping back into character in real life, by helping stop a shoplifter in Southampton.
The 69-year-old actor, who portrayed PC Reg Hollis for 24 years in the long-running ITV drama, intervened when a man attempted to flee the scene of a theft earlier this week.
According to details heard in court, Stewart helped restrain the suspect, Mohamed Diallo, after he fell from his bike while trying to escape with stolen goods.
In a statement from Hampshire Constabulary, police confirmed Stewart sat on the man’s legs to stop him getting away as officers moved in to make the arrest.
Video footage from the scene shows officers recognising the actor and asking for a group photo.
Stewart responded modestly: “No, sure, man. Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years, in the TV show. Yeah, I played Reg.”
A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson added: “In policing, you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn’t on The Bill for this week.”
“Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV’s Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday 23 July.
“The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle.”
They continued: “The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest.
“To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect’s legs while officers put him in cuffs.
“Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he’s still got it.”
Diallo, 29, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to five counts of theft.
The charges related to multiple shoplifting offences, including £17.25 worth of coffee from a Co-op on July 23, £69.90 worth of goods from the same store on July 17, and £54.50 worth of items on July 14.
He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from a Sainsbury’s on the same day, and £63 of alcohol from another branch back in April.
Diallo was released on bail and is due to be sentenced on August 29.
Stewart’s involvement in the arrest has drawn praise online, with fans hailing the former TV cop for his quick thinking and showing that after two decades playing a bobby on the beat, old instincts clearly die hard.
