Stephen Tompkinson tells court it would be ‘career suicide’ to assault man as he claims he’s lost work over charge
ACTOR Stephen Tompkinson has today told a court it would be "career suicide" for him to "do something as outrageous as assault someone".
The DCI Banks star, 57, is accused of causing Karl Poole traumatic brain injuries when he allegedly knocked him out following a noise row.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how there was a "hitting of flesh" followed by a "cracking sound" as "heavily intoxicated" Karl fell to the ground in the early hours of May 30 2021.
The trial has previously heard Tompkinson was then seen "on his haunches with his hands on his head" following the horror outside his home in North Tyneside.
And taking to the stand in his defence today, Tompkinson told the court that work has dried up since he was held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
He then told the court it would be "career suicide" to "do something outrageous as assault someone."
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He added: "Any member of the public is potentially a member of your audience, I have to try to treat them with respect at all times.
"After we got 15 million viewers for Ballykiss Angel my father, who was alive at the time, said 'you have to remember you have been invited into people's living rooms so you must always remember that, always treat them with respect' and I have always tried to."
And he added: “I have had work taken away from me which was not nice and also have been told by representatives that with this hanging over me, association with me has been put on hold.”
Tompkinson said he was not working at the moment, with his barrister Nicholas Lumley KC saying: "Has this charge hanging over you affected your ability to work?"
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He said: "Very much so."
Mr Lumley then asked: "Do you need to work?"
With Tompkinson replying: "Yes, absolutely."
And the actor told the jury that despite tempers often fraying on set, he had never resorted to violence in pressurised situations.
He said: "I’m not a person who rises to anger, even in the most tense situations.”
The star, dressed in a dark blue suit with a shirt and tie of the same colour, held a black bag as he headed towards Newcastle Crown Court.
Tompkinson has denied the charge of GBH against him.
As he initially took the stand, Mr Lumley asked him: “Did you punch Karl Poole?” - with Tompkinson replying: "no".
Mr Lumley then asked: “Did you assault him for no reason.”
Tompkinson replied: “No.”
Mr Lumley asked: “Do you accept you came into contact with him and he tottered back and fell?”
Tompkinson replied: “Eventually, yes but I don’t believe I’m responsible for his injuries.”
Tompkinson agreed to taking a “disapproving tone” about Karl and Andrew but denies that was reflected in his actions that morning, the court heard.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch put it to him that it’s an “odd coincidence” that he had a bruise on the back of his left hand afterwards and a witness said she saw him punch Karl with his left hand.
He replied: “How do you punch someone with the back of your hand? That’s an old bruise.
“There was no left punch by me whatsoever. There’s no evidence of a punch at all because one never took place.”
Tompkinson added that he got the bruise erecting a gym back over a tree in the garden for “the little un to exercise”.
The trial began last week and the court heard how Tompkinson allegedly punched Mr Poole following an argument over noise outside the DCI Banks actor's home.
Tompkinson rose to fame playing Father Peter Clifford in 1996's Ballykissangel.
In the same year, he appeared as Phil in hit film Brassed Off.
He has also appeared in TV shows including Drop The Dead Donkey, Wild At Heart, Minder, New Tricks, Grafters and Ted And Alice.
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He was in DCI Banks for six years until the show was axed in 2016.
The trial continues.