Police in New Zealand hunting a prolific burglar have issued a wanted poster bearing a photograph of the British actor Robbie Coltrane.

Although the photograph of Coltrane has the word “wanted” above it and “active burglar in this neighbourhood”, officers stressed that the actor was not accused of committing any crime.

The suspected burglar is a 16-year-old, but because New Zealand law bans the publication of photographs of juvenile suspected criminals, police in Christchurch decided to use Coltrane’s face instead.