DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson has been found not guilty after denying an accusation of inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man who alleged he had punched him in 2021.
The actor was on trial this week, when he said it would be “career suicide” for him to “assault someone”, namely the accuser Karl Poole.
Newcastle Crown Court heard on Tuesday (May 9) that on the morning of the alleged assault, Tompkinson said he was asleep at home with his partner and her child when he “became aware” of “two men outside” – Poole and a man named Andrew Hall.
The actor said he came out of his house at around 5.30am, wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown, to challenge Mr Poole and his friend, who were both “quite heavily intoxicated”.
When asked by his barrister, Nicholas Lumley KC: “Did you punch Karl Poole?” Tompkinson replied: “No.”
(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Tompkinson said in court: “I didn’t want to hurt him; I wanted to stop him to change his mind about coming towards me and further onto my property.”
He claimed he went to make a “stop” gesture with his hand, which connected with Poole’s face, who then fell to the floor because of his “unsteadiness”.
The court was told Tompkinson had his phone after he called 999, and that the atmosphere reportedly changed after Tompkinson told Poole he had called the police.
Tompkinson denied making a fist with his hand, telling the court: “Not without breaking my fingers or risking some solid metal going into Karl’s face.”
(Image: PA)
He also claimed that the case had “very much so” affected his career, as he was not currently working.
“In no way trying to compare my situation with the injury Karl suffered; they don’t compare; I’ve had situations taken away from me that were in place. I’ve been told while this is hanging over me, any association is put on hold,” he said.
Asked by his barrister if he had anything to gain by assaulting Mr Poole, Tompkinson said: “Absolutely not. Any member of the public is potentially a member of your audience, and you have to treat them with respect at all times.
“After we got 15 million viewers for Ballykissangel, my father, who was alive at the time, said: ‘You have been invited into people’s living rooms, and you must always treat them with respect’, and I always try to.
“It would be career suicide to do something as outrageous as assault someone.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
