Shocking moment The Bill legend Reg Hollis tackles shoplifter in real-life arrest

This is the shocking moment TV copper Pc Reg Hollis helps real-life police officers arrest a shoplifter as he attempted to escape on a bicycle.

Actor Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in ITV series The Bill, jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him in the incident in Southampton, Hampshire, on Wednesday. Bodycam footage from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary shows Jeff, wearing sunglasses and shorts, being thanked by officers.

He replies: "No, sure, man. Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years, in the TV show. Yeah, I played Reg." The star later posed for a group photo with police officers. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was charged with five offences of theft, to which he pleaded guilty, at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

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He was bailed to be sentenced on August 29. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week.

"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.

"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." Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from Co-op in Ocean Way 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.

He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from Sainsbury's in Bedford Place on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's in Redcar Street on April 22. The Bill, which ran from 1984 until 2010, followed the personal and professional lives of detectives from the fictional Sun Hill area of east London.

Jeff was the highest-earning cast member, raking in £150,000 a year for his appearances. He appeared in the first ever episode of the series, which aired in 1984.

His character rocked short, cropped dark hair and a clean-shaven face during his time on the fan-favourite ITV series. The Bill actor would usually wear a smart police officer's uniform, which included a crisp white shirt, a simple black tie and a classic police officer's vest.

Since leaving the long-running series, the actor continued appearing on TV and had roles in movies and shows like Dead Man Running, The Hooligan Factory and Mob Handed. He also starred in Under Jakob's Ladder in 2011, in which he picked up the Best Actor gong at the Manhattan Film Festival.