Stephen Tompkinson trial: Neighbour of former DCI Banks star ‘noticed him punch ‘very drunk’ man outdoors his Whitley Bay residence’

A neighbour of British actor Stephen Tompkinson has informed a jury she witnessed him slapping and punching a drunk man within the head throughout an incident outdoors his residence.

Caroline Davidson gave proof on the second day of the 57-year-old’s trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the place he’s accused of inflicting grievous bodily hurt on Karl Poole within the early hours of 30 May 2021.

Tompkinson, recognized for starring in TV reveals together with DCI Banks, Ballykissangel and Drop The Dead Donkey, denies the cost.

On the opening day of the trial, jurors had been informed Mr Poole suffered traumatic mind accidents because of the incident.

He and a pal, Andrew Hall, had been consuming since about midnight and had been strolling previous Tompkinson’s residence in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, as they returned to Mr Hall’s home from the seashore, the court docket heard.

Tompkinson went outdoors at about 5.30am to confront the 2 males for making noise outdoors his residence, and initially known as the police asking for them to be moved on, the court docket was informed by prosecutor Michael Bunch.

On Thursday, the court docket heard from Mrs Davidson – jurors had been informed she knew Tompkinson lived on the home throughout the street however had not spoken to him since he moved in two or three years beforehand.

Giving her account of what occurred, she informed jurors she was woken by “hysterical laughter” and regarded out of her bed room window to see two males mendacity on the ground outdoors.

They each appeared “very drunk” and had been “wobbling” backward and forward, she mentioned, and Mr Poole was solely carrying boxer shorts.

Mrs Davidson informed the court docket she went again to mattress however acquired up once more when she heard a voice with a “different tone”.

She might see Tompkinson “using hand movements to ask [the two men] to move away” and at one level “pulled his fist back”, the court docket heard. However, he put it down “more or less straight away” earlier than strolling again in the direction of his home whereas apparently making a telephone name, she mentioned.

The two males then acquired up with some problem, put their arms round one another and “started to try and walk off”, Mrs Davidson mentioned, earlier than her neighbour returned.

“The two males started to turn,” she mentioned. “You could see maybe something was being said. The next thing I knew, the neighbour had stepped forward and he had slapped one of the gentlemen, the one without the top on, with his right hand and then punched him on the head with his left hand.”

‘He did not transfer’

Asked by the prosecutor if something had “precipitated that action”, Mrs Davidson replied: “No.”

She mentioned she was “100% sure” Tompkinson had moved in the direction of the 2 males.

Mr Poole “stumbled backwards and fell”, she mentioned. “He just went straight back and his head hit the ground. He just, he didn’t move. He didn’t even put his hands out to stop himself, he just hit the ground.”

Tompkinson got here out of his home when the police arrived and spoke to 2 officers, Mrs Davidson mentioned, after which positioned a bottle of Jagermeister at Mr Poole’s toes.

Jurors have beforehand heard Tompkinson informed police he had taken a bottle from the 2 males.

When requested if both of the 2 males made any aggressive actions in the direction of the actor at any level, Mrs Davidson responded: “No.”

Second witness offers proof

Mr Hall additionally appeared within the witness field on Thursday, telling the court docket he heard a “cracking” sound when Mr Poole’s head hit the ground.

Asked what Tompkinson did as Mr Poole lay on the bottom, Mr Hall replied: “I think he had his phone out but it was clear he wasn’t ringing for help.

“Later on, I do not know the timescale, he confirmed a little bit of humanity and a little bit of regret for my part, it will need to have sunk in what occurred, however it did not initially. I consider he was on his haunches along with his fingers on his head.”

Jurors have heard Tompkinson informed police he pushed Mr Poole away in self-defence.

He denies the cost and the trial continues.