Police arrest man in his 40s on suspicion of attempted murder after ex-fiancé of EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth was shot in the stomach – as he is discharged from hospital
- Prime suspect has been arrested over shooting of Gillian Taylforth’s ex-fiance
- Fairbairn was hit at close range in Enfield, North London, near a Toby Carvery
- He has been discharged from hospital following surgery to have bullet removed
- He is currently on bail after being arrested over £850,000 cannabis factory
A man has been arrested over the shooting of Eastenders star Gillian Taylforth’s ex-fiance.
Dave Fairbairn, 64, was shot in the stomach on Sunday, July 5 after reportedly confronting a group of people.
The suspect, a man in his 40s, is being held on suspicion of attempted murder.
Dave Fairbairn and Gillian Taylforth are pictured together above on November 21, 2015. Dave Fairbairn, 64, was shot in the stomach on Sunday, July 5
The car park of the nearby Toby Carvery had been cordoned off after the shooting, which is said to have taken place in the woodland next to it
He was questioned for several hours before being released on bail until next month, The Sun reported.
The arrest comes as Mr Fairbairn has been discharged from hospital.
Mr Fairbairn, 64, was shot from point blank range in Enfield, North London, but the bullet missed his vital organs.
The ex of former EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth was allegedly shot confronting a group of people while he was on bail over a huge £850,000 cannabis factory.
Mr Fairbairn revealed to a friend that the bullet – which missed his vital organs – fired before he heard ‘lots of clicking’ during the incident.
Mr Fairbairn was arrested and bailed after police discovered this Cannabis factory in Arrington, Cambridgeshire
The Sun reports that he told a friend: ‘All I can remember is this bang, then lots of clicking.
‘I think the trigger was being pulled again and again.
‘I was lucky some people found me and called the ambulance.’
He had been arrested three months ago over a drugs farm found in Arrington, Cambridgeshire, by police.
He was detained by officers at the time on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and handling stolen goods.
Ms Taylforth split from fiancé Fairbairn after six years together in late 2019 (pictured: The pair together in May 2015)
Two other man aged 32 and 37 attempted to run off when police arrived but were stopped and arrested on suspicion of cultivation as well as immigration offences.
Authorities confirmed to MailOnline all three have now been bailed until later this month.
Mr Fairbairn was shot at close range near a Toby Carvery car park.
On Monday he was stable in hospital following surgery to have the bullet removed, The Sun reported.
Ms Taylforth was said to be in shock following news of the shooting.
She and Mr Fairbairn have remained close despite calling off their wedding in December.
Ms Taylforth split from fiancé Fairbairn after six years together in late 2019 after their relationship came under strain following a ‘string of disagreements’, reports at the time claimed.
The pair were together since 2013 and Ms Taylforth, who is best known for playing Kathy Beale in EastEnders, originally parted ways with Dave two years earlier due to ‘fiery rows’ between the pair, but later rekindled their romance.
Ms Taylforth’s relationship with him was her first following her split from her ex-partner of 23 years Geoff Knights.
She shares two children with Knights, who tragically died of stomach cancer, aged 58, back in 2013.