Stephen Tompkinson caused traumatic brain injuries to a man he hit outside his home, a court has heard.
Stephen Tompkinson's trial is ongoing
The 57-year-old actor - who starred in ITV drama 'DCI Banks' from 2010 to 2016 - has been accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole in May, 2021.
During an ongoing trial, Newcastle Crown Court heard that Tompkinson punched Mr. Poole to the ground, which caused him to bang his head and fracture his skull.
He has denied the charge, with his defence Nicholas Lumley KC suggested the man could have fallen "as a result of a simple push" and then exaggerated the incident.
On Wednesday (03.05.23), prosecutor Michael Brunch said the actor phoned the police at around 5.30am and approached two drunk men.
Tompkinson told officers he took a bottle of Jagermeister from them and wanted them to be "moved on" because they were causing a disturbance outside his home.
In the call, he said one man was "just in his underwear" and added: "I've asked them to move. They can't move."
The jury heard that Mr. Poole - who has "absolutely zero" memory of the night - and his friend Andrew Hall started drinking at around midnight and went to the beach to see the sunrise.
They passed the actor's home on the way back to Mr. Hall's house, with neighbour Caroline Davidson awoken by the sound of "laughing and carrying on".
The court heard that the pair were "obviously heavily drunk" and Mr. Poole "could hardly stay upright".
Mr. Brunch said that the actor 'slapped Mr. Poole with his right hand before punching him to the head with his left fist".
He continued: "Mr Poole stumbled and then fell backwards striking his head on the roadway, where he lay unconscious."
Mrs. Davidson told her husband to phone for an ambulance, and a still unconscious Mr. Poole was taken to hospital where it was determined he had suffered a fractured skull and significant traumatic brain injuries.
Tompkinson told officers he acted in self-defence and only pushed the man after they became "aggressive".
Mr. Bunch argued that claim was "simply not supported by any of the evidence", adding: "The truth is that the defendant's story is nothing more than a weak attempt by him to deflect blame onto others for what were his wholly unjustified aggressive actions."