AN Accrington man who allegedly broke into the set of TV soap EastEnders and confronted actor Shane Richie is a former professional boxer, it has been revealed.
Raymond Taylor, whose age was given in court as 33, and of Cedar Street, Accrington, was due to appear at St Alban's Magistrates court in Hertfordshire on Tuesday but he failed to turn up and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Taylor, formelry of Great Harwood, was arrested after an intruder apparently broke into the EastEnders Elstree studios in Hertfordshire and approached stars Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon, and actress Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater.
It has been reported that the intruder walked in last Friday while filming was going on and announced: "I'm here for the acting lessons." Security men apparently grabbed a suspect and held him until police arrived. Officers allegedly found a screwdriver and wire-cutters in his backpack.
Taylor is a former amateur fighter with the Bamber Bridge and Accrington Lions Club.
His professional career started in December 1985 when he was called up at short notice to fight Blackpool's Ted Mahaffey at Preston Guild Hall in a six-round light welterweight contest - and won! His manager at the time - Nigel Basso - tipped him for big things.
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