Actor Stephen Tompkinson has broken his silence over his stressful GBH trial and explained what happened on the night he was accused of attacking a man in Tyneside.
On May 11, the DCI Banks and Ballykissangel star was cleared of committing what he said would have been "career suicide" by attacking a drunken man outside his house in Whitley Bay. His career was put on hold for two years while he fought allegations he inflicted grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole.
Prosecutors had claimed he slapped and punched Mr Poole but Tompkinson insisted he had only pushed out in self-defence as Mr Poole came towards him. Mr Poole, who was very drunk and was wearing only underpants after a dip in the sea, ended up falling and banging his head on the ground, suffering a fractured skull and traumatic brain injuries.
