Legendary ITV police drama star 'helps police arrest real-life criminal'

Metro

4 days ago

An actor who spent nearly 25 years playing a police officer on The Bill has helped combat a real-life criminal.
From 1984 to 2008 Jeff Stewart took on the role of PC Reg Hollis on the ITV drama series.
The police procedural focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers of all ranks, with the storylines following situations faced by uniformed officers working on the beat, as well as plainclothes detectives.
Joining the series the year it began, Jeff first appeared in the premiere episode Funny Ol' Business – Cops & Robbers.
By 2007 he was the last member of the cast remaining from that first episode. His character was written off the following year, with The Bill then ending in 2010.
Now, it appears the 69-year-old actor took a leaf out of his character's playbook after stepping in to stop a crime.
Earlier this week Southampton resident Mohamed Diallo, 29, appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court, where details of the incident were revealed.
The court was that after Diallo shoplifted and attempted to escape on a bicycle, Jeff jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him.
'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week,' a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said.
'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.'
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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.'
In video of the arrest released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, officers thanked Jeff before asking for a group photo.
He replied: 'No, sure, man. Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years, in the TV show. Yeah, I played Reg.'
Diallo was charged with five counts of theft, to which he pleaded guilty.
Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from a Co-op on July 23, theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and £54.50 of alcohol and coffee from the same shop on July 14. More Trending
He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from a Sainsburys on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from another on April 22.
He was released on bail and will be sentenced on August 29.
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During it's run, The Bill helped launch careers of actors including Keira Knightley, David Tennant, James McAvoy, Sean Bean and David Walliams.
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