Shane Richie pleads not guilty to drink-driving
The EastEnders actor, real name Shane Roche, faces trial in November 2027.
Incident → evidence → outcomeShane Roche, the actor widely known as Shane Richie, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving while over the legal alcohol limit. The 62-year-old appeared via video link at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 9, under his real name.
Allegations
Mr Roche is accused of driving a white Hyundai on Church Langley Way in Harlow, Essex, on July 29, while exceeding the prescribed limit for alcohol. According to prosecutor Vladimir Silea, police attended a Tesco petrol station at 11:15pm on that date where Mr Roche was arrested and taken to Harlow police station. A subsequent breath test recorded 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit in England and Wales is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
During the court hearing, Mr Roche confirmed his personal details and entered his plea of not guilty. He briefly disconnected from the video call, apologising to the judge and explaining he was in a hotel. Deputy District Judge Christopher Maynard granted Mr Roche bail.
His trial is scheduled to take place at the same court on November 17, 2027.
Legal Representation
Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at Hodge, Jones & Allen, issued a statement on behalf of Mr Roche. "My client is not commenting at this time because criminal proceedings are active," the statement read. "We ask for his privacy to be respected while the court process takes its course."
Mr Roche is best known for his long-running role as Alfie Moon in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a character he has portrayed since 2002. He also competed in the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, finishing fourth.
Questions this report answers
01What is Shane Richie accused of?
Shane Richie, whose real name is Shane Roche, is accused of driving a white Hyundai on Church Langley Way in Harlow, Essex, on July 29 while over the legal alcohol limit. A breath test recorded 65 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the 35 microgram limit.
02What was the outcome of the court hearing?
At Colchester Magistrates’ Court, Shane Roche pleaded not guilty to the charge of drink-driving. He was granted bail, and his trial has been scheduled for November 17, 2027, at the same court.
03Will Shane Richie comment on the case?
No, Shane Richie's solicitor has stated that his client will not be commenting on the matter due to active criminal proceedings. They have requested that his privacy be respected during the court process.
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