Actor Ciaran Griffiths, who played Mickey Maguire in the Channel 4 series Shameless, has found himself the victim of a Manchester ne’er-do-well after his bike was stolen on Sunday evening – just hours after he had ridden 25 miles to raise money for Sport Relief.

Griffiths, one of whose other high-profile roles was a three-year stint playing police officer Gary Best in ITV’s The Bill, had popped into a shop to buy some sweets – but left his bike outside, apparently unlocked.

Earlier in the day, using a different bike, he had taken part in the charity event alongside former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton and Coronation Street actress, Catherine Tyldesley reports the Manchester Evening News.

That evening, he rode to a newsagents’ shop at the corner of Bowes Street and Princess Road in Moss Side to buy some sweets on his £300 black Create bike, which has a green rear wheel and white front wheel.

The bike was stolen while he was inside, with the 31-year-old actor saying: “I had just gone to the shops to get some Mini Eggs when a guy came in and told me someone was riding off on my bike.

“I came out and saw this guy running off with it and chased him. I got to within 50m when he got on and started pedalling and put his foot down.

“I tried to find him in a car but there are so many alleyways around there.

“It was just a bit sickening and a pointless theft. The person won’t get much for it if they try and sell it. It is just so annoying and the irony of it after having done a charity bike ride.”

He added: “I am a keen cyclist and use my bikes to get around.

“The Sport Relief cycle was great fun, a great atmosphere.”

Anyone with information about the bike is requested to contact Greater Manchester Police on 101.