Strictly Come Dancing star
Brendan Cole has told how he stepped in to make a citizen’s arrest after spotting an attempted handbag theft at a London tube station.
The professional dance star followed and detained a man after he targeted a woman’s bag on a busy staircase.
Cole, who begins rehearsing for a new series of BBC1’s Strictly on Monday, gave police a statement after the man’s arrest at Baker Street underground station yesterday evening.
The 36-year-old said: “I was walking in a busy tube station and it felt like something wasn’t quite right and sure enough I noticed there was a guy who was trying to get into a handbag, under his rucksack.
“I turned round and stopped to make a fuss and after I checked the girl was all right, I stuck with the guy.”
He kept the man occupied until he attracted the attention of a policeman who came to the scene. Cole gave a witness statement to officers.
“I just stuck with him until the policeman came to make sure he didn’t leave,” said Cole, who has been in rehearsals for a theatre tour early next year.
“There was no argy-bargy or anything. It was an interesting situation — everything happened really fast. I’ve been pick-pocketed myself where kids stole my mobile phone.
“I’m just really glad I saw it — some poor girl’s day was about to be ruined.”
The British Transport Police (BTP) said a 41-year-old had been charged with attempted theft and possession of Class B drugs.