Moment motorbike-riding yobs swarm man on quiet London street in broad daylight… but it’s not all as it seems

THIS is the moment a gang of motorbike-riding yobs swarmed a man in central London in broad daylight – but all was not as it seemed.

The dramatic incident on Adam Street near Waterloo Bridge on Thursday saw the target eventually flee in a Range Rover as passersby stood open-mouthed.

SuppliedThe motorbike thugs surrounded a man as he left the Adelphi building[/caption] SuppliedHe then makes a getaway in a waiting Range Rover[/caption] SuppliedHis driver can be seen thumping one rider with a bat[/caption]

However, the “victim” was actually actor Theo James – and his getaway driver ex-football hardman Vinnie Jones, on set of the second series of The Gentlemen.

The footage, shared with The Sun, was filmed from an office building across the street by a big fan of the Guy Ritchie-produced Netflix series.

She told us: “I was visiting my friend in his office – it was about half nine or 10. There were a couple sections of the street barricaded off and suddenly a film crew appeared.

“There were a couple of us watching at the window and I started filming.

“I recognised it was Theo James straight away. I was like ‘this is exciting – oh my God!’”

In the footage, the director can be heard shouting “action” before James, 40 – who plays lead character Eddie Halstead – emerges from the Adelphi building with three other actors.

Suddenly, half a dozen thugs on motorbikes arrive from both directions as James dashes towards a waiting Range Rover and driver Vinnie Jones, who plays Geoff Seacombe.

The ex-Leeds United, Chelsea and Wimbledon midfielder, 60, then attacks one rider with a bat, before the car speeds off around the corner.

Further footage shows the crew focusing in on Jones thumping the thug with the bat, causing him to fall backwards off the bike. 

And more video shot from the ground sees one of the riders doing a wheelie in front of James.   

The witness, 26 – who did not wish to be named – went on to tell The Sun: “It was all very quick, but it was cool to watch. 

“You could hear some bangs and motorbikes revving – and it grabbed everyone’s attention.

“My friend’s seen a few things being filmed before around there. He said ‘they’re definitely filming something’, then I saw the mic at the side of the road, then I saw Theo James.”

She added: “I watched the first season and loved it – I love Theo James and Vinnie Jones, they’re really funny. 

APTheo James stars in Netflix gangster series The Gentlemen[/caption] Christopher Rafael/NetflixJames and co-star Vinnie Jones (right) on the show[/caption] GettyJones was previously a professional footballer before becoming a Hollywood actor[/caption]

“I read that Maya Jama’s gonna be in the new series too, which should be good.” 

The Gentlemen is a spin-off of the Ritchie-directed 2019 film of the same name, which starred Charlie Hunnam, Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant and Colin Farrell.

The TV show, which also features Skins and Pirates of the Caribbean actress Kaya Scodelario, follows James’ Eddie after he inherits his family’s estate only to discover that it’s home to an enormous weed empire, dragging him into the criminal underworld.

James – who also appeared in The Inbetweeners Movie – is currently among those leading the race to become the next James Bond.

According to Coral, fellow Brit Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, is top of the betting, however, James this month overtook former favourite Henry Cavill, 42, to take second place.   

APJames, who returns for season two, is among the stars being tipped to play James Bond[/caption] NetflixJones with Joely Richardson during season one[/caption] Kaya Scodelario and James, who both received praise for their performancesRex