ACTOR'S RELIEF
DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson, 57, says ‘I just want to go home’ as he’s CLEARED of knocking man out in noise row
ACTOR Stephen Tompkinson today said "I just want to go home" as he was cleared of punching a stranger to the ground outside his home.
The DCI Banks star, 57, was accused of causing Karl Poole traumatic brain injuries when he knocked him out following a noise row.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard how there was a "hitting of flesh" followed by a "cracking sound" as Mr Poole fell to the ground.
Tompkinson, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, has today been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm.
Speaking after the verdict today, he told reporters: "I just want to go home."
Prosecutors claimed Tompkinson "snapped" and "lashed out" at Mr Poole in "disgust" at his behaviour.
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The court previously heard how the actor was seen "on his haunches with his hands on his head" following the horror outside his home.
But taking to the stand, Tompkinson said it would be "career suicide" to "do something outrageous as assault someone."
He also told the court work has dried up since he was held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
Tompkinson had come out of his home in pyjamas and a dressing gown before allegedly striking Mr Poole as he stood outside with pal Andrew Hall.
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The court was told both Mr Poole and Mr Hall had been drinking for around five hours when they walked past Tompkinson's home.
Witnesses said they were laughing and "lying on the path" during the early hours of the morning when the actor approached them.
Tompkinson, who was living with his partner and her seven-year-old son at the time, said he had heard "strange noises" and went out to investigate.
He allegedly confronted the two "heavily intoxicated" men, one of whom was wearing just his underpants.
Tompkinson then called 999 after seeing the pair try to stand up and fall several times while drinking from a bottle of Jagermeister, the court heard.
He told court the two men "took great objection" to him complaining and had started to move towards him.
The actor said he put his hand out to stop Mr Poole coming any further and made contact with his face, but told jurors it "wasn't enough to knock a sober man off his feet".
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, told jurors Tompkinson did nothing more than push Mr Poole away.
He added: "The push would not have caused a sober person to fall, necessarily, or fall in an unbroken way.
"The law permits someone to act before they themselves are assaulted, if that's what they genuinely believe."
Mr Lumley said Tompkinson "had every reason not to assault a complete stranger" and was an actor "sought out by producers because of his calmness".
The lawyer added: "Why would he risk throwing away that hard earned reputation?"
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.
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He has also appeared in TV shows including Drop The Dead Donkey, Wild At Heart, Minder, New Tricks, Grafters and Ted And Alice.
He was in DCI Banks for six years until the show was axed in 2016.
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