Thief jailed after The Bill actor helps arrest

A shoplifter has been jailed for 20 weeks after a former star of ITV's The Bill helped police to make the arrest.

Jeff Stewart, who played PC Reg Hollis for 24 years, came to the aid of officers in Ocean Way, Southampton, on 23 July.

The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, of Anglesea Road, previously admitted stealing alcohol and coffee in seven separate incidents in the city.

Southampton magistrate Alan Foster said Diallo was a "blight on local small shopkeepers" who stole to fund his drug habit.

PC Reg Hollis (left) was a key character in the long-running drama series

In video of the arrest released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, officers chased Diallo from a shop in Ocean Way.

The fleeing man fell off a bicycle and was handcuffed while Stewart, wearing shorts and sunglasses, sat on his legs.

Police thanked the actor, who lives locally, before asking for a group photo.

The star replied: "No, sure, man. Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years, in the TV show. Yeah, I played Reg."

Diallo stole more than £300 worth of goods including whisky, sherry, wine and coffee between April and July, magistrates heard.

Passing sentence, Mr Foster said: "You are a persistent thief with a record that is unenviable.

"Whatever help we have given you, you have turned it down. You don't engage with the services offered."

Jeff Stewart, who was not in court, left the long-running police drama in 2008.

He went on to appear in a music video for indie pop band Miike Snow.

Stewart also won a prize at the Manhattan Film Festival in New York in 2011 for a role in low-budget film Under Jakob's Ladder.