Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson has pleaded guilty to crack cocaine possession after he was arrested in a London pub on Boxing Day.
But in a bizarre twist, the 48-year-old actor has reportedly blamed his fans for having the drugs on him in the first place.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement from London’s Metropolitan Police.
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“Police were called at about 18.30hrs on 26 December 2023 to West End Lane in Camden,” a spokesman from the Met Police said.
“Officers attended and arrested a man.
“Paul Anderson, 48, of West Hampstead, was later charged with two counts of possession of Class A drugs and two counts of possession of Class C drugs.”
Anderson, who features as Arthur, the brother of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in Peaky Blinders, was found with various drugs including crack cocaine, amphetamines, Diazepam and the nerve pain drug Pregabalin, a court indictment states.
Police were reportedly called after a pub manager detected what he believed were crack cocaine fumes coming from the disabled toilet after Anderson had been in there.
According to The Independent, Anderson’s lawyer blamed the actor’s drug use on his desire to “please fans” by “slipping into character”.
“You will recognise the defendant from a very intense part that he has played in a recent television program,” Anderson’s lawyer said, referring to Peaky Blinders.
“He is often recognised and does his best to please fans of the show by slipping into character.
“He was recognised that Boxing Day and tried to play up for these people – and because of the lifestyle he leads, people often give him inducements.
“He has found himself in an unfortunate position and should have had the strength to say no.”
Anderson was fined £1345 (about $2500) by the Highbury Coroner Magistrates Court.
The actor is set to reprise his role as Arthur Shelby on the big screen for a Peaky Blinders movie, but it’s now uncertain if he will appear in the film.
An insider told the Daily Star that Anderson’s drug conviction could create “huge problems” for the production, which may even be put on hold.
“It will be so hard to have a Peaky Blinders film without such a pivotal character, while it will be tough having him reprise the role as if nothing has happened,” the source said.
“The third option would be to cancel the entire thing.”
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