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DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson arrives at court for fourth day of his GBH trial
DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson arrives at court for fourth day of his GBH trial ‘after he punched drunken stranger to the ground outside his house in noise row’
- Actor has denied charge and said it would be ‘career suicide’ to assault someone
Actor Stephen Tompkinson arrived in court today for the fourth day of his GBH trial, which has seen him accused of punching a drunken stranger to the ground outside his house.
The DCI Banks star has denied the charge and yesterday told jurors it would be ‘career suicide to do something as outrageous as assault someone’.
Tompkinson, 57, said his acting had been ‘put on hold’ and he had lost work as a result of the court case.
A witness allegedly saw Tompkinson slap Karl Poole before punching him in the head.
But Tompkinson said the habit during a long career in showbusiness of not making proper contact in fight scenes had been ‘in-bred’ and he was sure only his palm made contact with Mr Poole and with little force.
Stephen Tompkinson arriving at Newcastle Crown Court today for the fourth day of his GBH trial
Recalling the incident which ended with Mr Poole lying unconscious with skull fractures, the actor told Newcastle Crown Court: ‘I didn’t want to hurt him, I wanted to stop him.’
He added: ‘I didn’t apply any excessive force that would have caused any sober person to fall over… I am not responsible for Karl Poole’s double skull fracture. He went off due to his own instability. He fell in a completely different direction.’ Tompkinson has been charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm, which he denies.
The court was told that Mr Poole, 48, who had been dressed in his underpants and socks, and his friend Andrew Hall had taken a dip in the sea during an all-night drinking session.
Tompkinson said he was awake when he heard noises outside his house in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, at 5.30am on May 30, 2021.
He said they ‘didn’t seem able to carry on with their journey’ and were ‘the very definition of drunk and disorderly’.
A witness allegedly saw Tompkinson slap Karl Poole before punching him in the hea
He dialled 999 and was on hold when he confronted the men in his pyjamas and dressing gown where they were drinking on the drive.
‘It was a very frightening situation, they both got to their feet,’ he said.
Mr Hall then used the familiar words ‘Come on then’ before Tompkinson used his right hand to ‘guide’ Mr Hall ‘down on to all fours’.
Tomkinson said he then made contact with Mr Poole’s face with his palm and moments later saw him on the ground motionless.
Tompkinson said he spoke to police on his phone moments later but made no mention of how Mr Poole fell. He said he knew from his experience of police dramas that he would get the chance later to give a full explanation of events.
He added: ‘It would be career suicide to do something as outrageous as assault someone.’
The case continues.
