Stephen Tompkinson claims he’s lost work over punch accusations & insists he’s never resorted to violence while filming
ACTOR Stephen Tompkinson has today claimed he’s lost work after being accused of attacking a man outside his home.
The DCI Banks star, 57, is accused of causing Karl Poole traumatic brain injuries when he knocked him out following a noise row.
And taking to the stand in his defence today, Tompkinson told the court that work has died up since he was held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
He said: “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?”
He said: “Very much so.” Mr Lumley: “Do you need to work?”
Tompkinson: “Yes, absolutely.”
And the actor told the jury that despite tempers often fraying on set, he had never resorted to violence in pressurised situations.
The 57-year-old actor, who was pictured wearing 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.
He then told the court it would be “career suicide” to “do something outrageous as assault someone.”
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.”
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.”
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.
He was in DCI Banks for six years until the show was axed in 2016.
The trial continues.