Paul Anderson, known for his role as Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, recently saw his lawyer defend his cocaine and drug possession charges by claiming he was “slipping into character.”
Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby), Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby) and Annabelle Wallis (Grace Burgess) in Peaky Blinders, series three – Episode One Photographer: Robert Viglasky © Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd & Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd 2016
The Guardian reports Anderson was arrested after a pub manager contacted police after being told cocaine fumes were coming from a disabled toilet after Anderson left it.
Anderson was subsequently arrested by police and taken to a police station where they discovered he had “crack cocaine and a wrap of brown powder found to be amphetamines, plus diazepam and pregabalin.”
Anderson was charged with “possessing class A Crack cocaine as well as class B amphetamines and two class C prescription substances.”
Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby), Benjamin Zephaniah (Jeremiah Jesus) and Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby) in Peaky Blinders, series three – Episode One BTS Photographer: Robert Viglasky © Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd & Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd 2016
Anderson pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined £1,345. However, his lawyer defended Anderson’s actions telling the court, “You will recognise the defendant from a very intense part that he has played in a recent television programme. He is often recognised and does his best to please fans of the show by slipping into character.”
He added, “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.”
Anderson’s lawyer denied that the actor was smoking the crack cocaine, but shared, “He has found himself in an unfortunate position and should have had the strength to say no.”
Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby) and Kate Phillips (Linda Shelby) in Peaky Blinders, series three – Episode One BTS Photographer: Robert Viglasky © Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd & Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd 2016
What do you make of Anderson’s lawyer’s defense?
