London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jun 16, 2025

Stephen Tompkinson trial: Actor 'convincing at telling a story'

Stephen Tompkinson trial: Actor 'convincing at telling a story'

Stephen Tompkinson's talent made him "convincing in putting across a story", jurors in his trial were told as they retired to consider their verdict.

The 57-year-old actor is accused of punching a man who was drunkenly making noise outside his home in Whitley Bay in the early hours of 30 May 2021.

He denies causing grievous bodily harm and says he only pushed Karl Poole away in self-defence.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch claimed the actor "snapped" and "lashed out".

In his closing speech to the jury, Mr Bunch said this caused Mr Poole to fall and hit his head on the pavement, fracturing his skull.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the DCI Banks star came out of his house wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown after seeing Mr Poole and his friend Andrew Hall drinking at the bottom of his driveway at 05:30 BST.

A neighbour watching from her bedroom window told the court she saw Mr Tompkinson slap and punch Mr Poole, but the actor said he could not have done this because he was holding his phone at the time.

Mr Tompkinson, who was born in Stockton-on-Tees, had argued his profession made him less likely to assault anyone because it would be "career suicide".

Mr Bunch asked jurors: "But when we snap, do we worry about the consequences in that moment?

"Do we think about anything else other than that which has made us see red?"

Karl Poole fell and hit his head, fracturing his skull


The jury might think the actor's "obvious talent makes him convincing in putting across a story", the prosecutor told them.

"He is an expert in playing a part - a man tormented by a pair of drunks. He can deliver a line," he said.

Mr Bunch reminded jurors Mr Tompkinson had described the men's behaviour as "disgraceful" and "pure self-indulgence by grown men who should be behaving better".

Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said the actor was "sought out by producers because of his calmness".

He asked jurors: "Why would he risk throwing away that hard-earned reputation?"

The Ballykissangel star said he always wanted to treat members of his potential audience "with respect"


Jurors heard Mr Poole and Mr Hall had been drinking since midnight and had passed Mr Tompkinson's home in North Tyneside on the walk back from the beach.

The actor, who was living with his partner and her seven-year-old son, said he had heard "strange noises" and went out to challenge the two "heavily-intoxicated" men, one of whom was wearing just underpants.

He called police after seeing the pair repeatedly fall and try to stand up while drinking from a bottle of Jägermeister, the court heard.

The actor told the court the two men "took great objection" to him complaining and had started to move towards him.

He 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".

The jury has been sent out to consider its verdict.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
HSBC Accelerates Chairman Succession as Mark Tucker Prepares Departure
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Cristina Kirchner Requests House Arrest Citing Assassination Risk
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Sole Survivor of Air India Crash Recounts Escape
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Two Women Found Dead in Eryri National Park
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Pentagon Initiates Review of AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Pact
Meta to Invest $15 Billion in Scale AI to Advance AGI Goals
Rare Cancer Cases Triple Among Millennials, Alarming Doctors
G7 Finance Ministers Convene in Canada with Focus on Ukraine and Trade Tariffs
UK Spending Review Prioritizes Health and Defence Amid Budget Constraints
US Raises Security Concerns Over Proposed Chinese Embassy in London
Defined Benefit Pension Reforms Expected to Unlock Limited Investment
UK Industrial Strategy Launch Delayed Amid Budget Negotiations
Crick Institute Seeks Additional Funding to Attract International Scientists
Zia Yusuf Returns to Reform UK in New Role After Brief Resignation
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Scientist Returns Royal Society Prize in Protest Over Elon Musk's Fellowship
×