Comedian Lee Nelson, real name Simon Brodkin, ended up scuffling with police on London's busy Oxford Street after pretending to steal one of his own DVDs. Christmas shoppers looked on as Brodkin tussled with a community support officer who wrongly believed he was shoplifting.

The whole situation was confused by the fact that a man dressed up as a police officer was part of Nelson's in-store signing. A spokeswoman for the comedian told the Huffington Post, "He was doing a signing for his DVD at HMV in Oxford Street, and as a treat for his fans he 'stole' one of his own DVDs, then was chased around the store by an actor dressed up as a police officer.. Somehow they ended up out on the pavement, where a real police community support officer got involved, thinking it was a theft taking place. Shoppers were looking on and buses were stopping, it was all very dramatic." Brodkin is a former doctor who quit his promising medical career to pursue work as a stand-up comedian. He's since appeared on Lee Nelson's Well Good Show and has written for the likes of Jason Manford and Al Murray. After Wednesday's incident, he said, "How can you get arrested for nicking your own DVD? Mr Loophole lawyer, if you're reading this, get me off and I'll sort you out with the 20 other DVDs I took."

Lee Nelson is currently performing on his live tour, which calls at Swindon tonight (November 22), before heading to Newport, Worthing, Guildford, Hayes, Basingstoke, Exeter, Glasgow and Southend. 

Watch a trailer for Nelson's new DVD below: