Actor punched drunk man outside his home, court told

The actor Stephen Tompkinson punched a man and left him with traumatic brain injuries after confronting him for drunkenly making noise outside his home, a jury heard yesterday.

- KATIE DICKINSON

He is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole on 30 May, 2021.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch said Tompkinson, 57, famous for his role in DCI Banks, called police at about 5.30am to report two drunken men outside his house in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

He told officers he had confiscated a bottle of Jagermeister and wanted them "moved on", jurors heard.

About half an hour later, a neighbour called the emergency services to report that one of the men was lying unconscious in the street.

Caroline Davidson, who watched the incident from her bedroom window, later told officers she saw Tompkinson slap Mr Poole with his right hand before punching him to the head with his left fist. She said Mr Poole stumbled and then fell backwards, striking his head on the roadway.