Stephen Tompkinson has denied punching a drunk man outside his home.
Stephen Tompkinson has denied the allegation
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, 48, in May, 2021.
He told Newcastle Crown Court: "It would have been career suicide to do something as outrageous as an assault."
He also added: "There is no evidence of a punch."
Tompkinson has been accused of punching Mr Poole in an altercation with the man and his friend Andrew Hall - who were both "falling about drunk" - outside the actor's home at 5.30am on May 30.
He previously 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.
This week, he told the court that Mr Hall told him he was a "f****** social worker".
He continued: "He was a social worker guilty of anti-social behaviour. It was pure self-indulgence from them, both grown-up men who should have been behaving better."
Mr Poole fell and hit his head, causing "traumatic brain injuries", and last week neighbour Caroline Davidson gave evidence that Tompkinson hit the man with a "slap, then a punch".
The actor has now said: "I did not apply any excessive force that would have caused any sober person to fall over.
"There was no left punch from me, nor were there any corresponding injuries on Karl's face.
"There is no evidence of a punch because one never took place. His head injury had nothing to do with me. I am not responsible for Karl's double skull fracture."
When he was questioned by police, Tompkinson had claimed he put his hand on Mr Hall's right cheek "just to halt him", and pushed Mr Poole away with his right hand.
He claimed a bruise on his left hand was the result of "putting a fitness bag together" a few days earlier.
Tompkinson - who noted he is "not working at the moment" - told the court that he has missed out on parts while waiting two years for the case to come to court.
He added that is late father told him his role in 1990s drama 'Ballykissangel' meant he had been "invited into the living rooms" of fans across the country.
He said: "Any member of the public is potentially a member of your audience, you have to show respect at all times. I have always tried to do that."