TV detective Stephen Tompkinson arrives at court to face trial accused of battering man
TV DETECTIVE Stephen Tompkinson has arrived at court ready to face trial after being accused of battering a man.
The actor, 57, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole back in May 2021.
At a previous hearing, the court heard how the alleged attack by Tompkinson was carried out “unlawfully and maliciously”.
Tompkinson, who is well known for starring in ITV’s DCI Banks and The Bay, denied the charge.
His trial is expected to last for four days.
His barrister Adam Birkby previously said the actor will claim self-defence.
Tompkinson, originally from Stock-on-Tees, Teesside, became a household name after starring as Father Peter Clifford in 1996’s Ballykissangel.
In the same year, he appeared as Phil in hit film Brassed Off.
Other TV series involving Tompkinson include Drop The Dead Donkey, Wild At Heart, Minder, New Tricks, Grafters and Ted And Alice.
In 1994 he won British Comedy Award for best TV actor for his performance in The Dead Donkey.
He was in DCI Banks for six years until the show was axed in 2016.