QPR defender handcuffed after misunderstandingWas taking tub of Philadelphia back when police arrivedPolice: ‘There was some confusion between Tesco staff’

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The Queens Park Rangers defender Steven Caulker was briefly arrested after being wrongly accused of stealing a tub of Philadelphia cheese from a Tesco Express.

Caulker, who signed a £42,000-a-week deal at QPR this summer, was reportedly handcuffed outside the supermarket in Weybridge, Surrey, having left the shop with a tub of the soft cheese, worth £1.85. He was heading back inside the shop with the cheese when police arrived.

A witness told the Sun: “He had left the Tesco Express then turned around and gone back in. That was when the police arrived, jumping from their squad car and handcuffing him. He looked pretty alarmed.

“They were going on about cheese – Philadelphia. There were a group of lads watching from across the street who immediately recognised him, and thought it was hilarious.”

Caulker was immediately released, and a Surrey police spokeswoman confirmed no crime had been committed: “There was some confusion between staff about payment.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “Police were called after an allegation of shoplifting last Tuesday. The matter was resolved at the store and our store colleagues decided not to press charges.”

QPR and Caulker refused to comment.