Sherlock star Amanda Abbington has complained that a thief stole her purse from under her seat at the Emmys – after she walked up on stage to collect the trophy for the sleuth drama.

The British actress, 42, attended the glitzy event in Los Angeles after Sherlock: The Abominable Bride was nominated for outstanding TV movie, a prize which the BBC drama went on to win.

Amanda, who appears as Mary Morstan in Sherlock – and whose partner is the drama’s co-star Martin Freeman, who plays her on-screen husband Dr John Watson – complained that her purse, phone and driver’s licence were pinched from her seat at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.

The actress revealed what happened on Twitter, after welcoming messages from fans congratulating her on Sherlock’s win – over rival drama Luther – at the 68th Emmy Awards.

Thanks for the lovely tweets re; the Emmy's. So pleased we won! Cool, right?

— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) September 19, 2016

However, we went up to collect the Emmy, did some press, came back to my seat and some bastard had nicked my purse from under my seat. Nice

— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) September 19, 2016

One follower asked the Mr Selfridge star whether it could have just got lost and been handed in to staff.

But Amanda suggested that there was no great Sherlock-style mystery and that her belongings had simply been stolen at the event.

@eicochrane No, I hung around until everyone had left the auditorium. Nothing there.

— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) September 19, 2016