EastEnders legend Shane Richie has been slapped with a six-month driving ban after blaming a “very public divorce” for his decision to speed. The 62-year-old actor, widely known for his long-running role as Alfie Moon in the BBC soap, admitted to exceeding the 30mph limit on Reigate Hill by five miles per hour on March 15.
Richie, whose real name is Shane Roche, pleaded guilty in writing to the speeding offence via the Single Justice Procedure. In a candid note submitted to Guildford Magistrates’ Court, the actor expressed deep remorse for the incident but described a campaign of harassment by photographers that he claimed had impacted his driving.
“I have lived in the Reigate area now for almost 20 years and over the past several months I’ve been followed from my place of work in Borehamwood… by our British tabloid press,” Richie wrote. He alleged that paparazzi have routinely tailed him on the M25, followed him to his local supermarket, and driven alongside his vehicle to secure provocative photographs.
“It’s no secret now that I’m going through a very public divorce and for the last several months the British press have suspected this and have been constantly baiting me and almost always looking for a reaction from me to sell their newspapers,” he continued. “This is not an excuse for going five miles over the limit, but just a reason why I may have sped up on that particular road.”
Despite his explanation, the court handed down a strict penalty. Magistrate Sheila Hewitt ordered the actor to pay a £500 fine, £120 in prosecution costs, and a £200 victim surcharge. The six-month ban brings a significant disruption to the veteran entertainer, who has been a fixture on British television since joining EastEnders in 2002 and has enjoyed a diverse career in game shows, pantomime, and theatre.
The speeding conviction is not the only legal hurdle currently facing the star. Richie is also due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on November 17, 2027, to face a separate charge of drink-driving. It is alleged that on July 29, he was driving a white Hyundai in Harlow, Essex, while providing a breath sample of 65 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath—nearly double the legal limit of 35 micrograms. Richie has entered a plea of not guilty to that charge and is currently awaiting trial.
Known for his charismatic personality, Richie’s recent professional projects have included the “Prat Pack” tour alongside fellow stars Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley, and Joe Pasquale, which visited Oxford’s New Theatre earlier this year. As his legal issues continue to unfold, the actor remains one of the UK’s most high-profile television personalities, though his latest court appearance highlights the personal toll of his ongoing, publicized divorce.
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