Stephen Tompkinson trial: Actor ‘punched drunken man’ and ’caused traumatic brain injuries’, court told
Actor Stephen Tompkinson slapped and punched a man who was drunk and making noise outside his home, leaving him with traumatic brain injuries, a court has heard.
The 57-year-old, best known for shows including Ballykissangel and DCI Banks, is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm in the early hours of 30 May 2021.
Tompkinson denies the charge and previously told police he acted in self-defence.
On the first day of the trial, prosecutor Michael Bunch told the jury that police were made aware of an incident when Tompkinson called at about 5.30am to report two drunken men outside his house in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.
The actor told officers he had taken a bottle of Jagermeister from the pair and wanted them “moved on”, the court was told.
About half an hour later, emergency services received a call from neighbour Caroline Davidson, who said she watched the incident from her bedroom window. She reported that one of the two men, Karl Poole, was lying unconscious in the street.
Mrs Davidson later told officers she saw Tompkinson slap Mr Poole with his right hand before punching his head with his left fist. Mr Poole stumbled and fell backwards, striking his head, she said.
Mr Poole and his friend Andrew Hall had been drinking since about midnight and were walking back to Mr Hall’s house from the beach, passing Tompkinson’s home on the way, Mr Bunch told the court.
The noise of the two men “laughing and carrying on” woke Mrs Davidson, who looked out of her window to see them lying on a path near Tompkinson’s home.
“She could see that one, later found to be Mr Poole, had on only his underpants, with a towel lying on the path next to him,” the prosecutor said.
Mrs Davidson went back to bed but looked out her window again when she heard another voice about five minutes later, the court heard. She then saw the defendant standing on his driveway speaking to the two men.
Tompkinson pictured in 2018
“Although she could not hear what her neighbour was saying, Mrs Davidson formed the view, from his hand gestures, that [Tompkinson] was telling the two men to get on their way,” Mr Bunch said.
“It appeared that one of the men said something back and Mrs Davidson saw her neighbour draw back his fist, before apparently thinking better of it and lowering his hand.
“The two men, who were obviously heavily drunk, tried to get to their feet, but Mr Poole could hardly stay upright, and Mr Hall had to help him keep his feet.
“The two made their way a short distance before stopping, possibly because the defendant had said something further to them.
“Mrs Davidson watched as the defendant approached the two men, who were wobbling from side to side. The defendant first slapped Mr Poole with his right hand before punching him to the head with his left fist.
“Mr Poole stumbled and then fell backwards striking his head on the roadway, where he lay unconscious. Concerned for what she had seen, Mrs Davidson asked her husband to call the ambulance service.”
Tompkinson then used his phone to record clips of the two men, but did not contact paramedics himself, the court heard.
Actor claimed he acted in self-defence
Jurors were told that after being taken to hospital, Mr Poole was found to have a fractured skull and significant traumatic brain injuries.
Following his arrest, Tompkinson told officers he had gone outside to ask the men to move away so as not to disturb his partner and her child, who were asleep, Mr Bunch said.
He said he acted in self-defence as the men had become “aggressive”.
However, the allegation of aggressive behaviour by the two men “is simply not supported by any of the evidence in the case”, Mr Bunch claimed.
“The truth is that the defendant’s story is nothing more than a weak attempt by him to deflect blame on to others for what were his wholly unjustified aggressive actions towards Mr Poole,” he added.
Tompkinson rose to fame starring as Father Peter Clifford in Ballykissangel from 1996 to 1998 and also appeared in the hit 1996 film Brassed Off alongside Ewan McGregor and the late Pete Postlethwaite, after his breakthrough role in political satire Drop The Dead Donkey early in the 1990s.
He starred as DCI Alan Banks in ITV’s DCI Banks from 2010 to 2016, with other TV credits including Wild At Heart, Minder, New Tricks and The Bay.
The trial continues.
An ice alert for the South East and West Midlands is among new weather warnings now in force across the UK.
Wintry conditions caused widespread travel problems on Tuesday and forced more than 200 schools to close.
Forecasters say the difficult conditions will last until Wednesday morning, raising the prospect of a tricky rush hour on the roads and public transport.
The ice alert covers London and most of southern England as far west as Exeter, and as far north as Birmingham, Leicester and Chester, and expires at 10am.
A snow and ice warning also covers nearly all of Wales apart from some far western areas, most of western and northern Scotland and all of Northern Ireland – again until 10am.
The warnings are in force until between 10 am and noon on Wednesday. Pic: Met Office
Another snow and ice warning snakes up the coast from East Anglia to the Scottish border and is in force until noon.
The Met Office has warned some journeys by road and rail could take longer in the morning.
It says drivers should allow extra time and pack items such as a blanket, spade, phone charger, and food and water.
Walkers should also be wary of icy surfaces and cyclists are advised to stick to main roads that are more likely to have been treated.
Temperatures in many places are set to be close to or below zero overnight, while snow accumulations are forecast to range from a couple of centimetres to potentially 10cm or more on higher ground.
Areas above 300m in Scotland could see build-ups of 15-20cm, the Met Office said.
Check the forecast in your area
People play in the snow on the hills of Buxton, Derbyshire. Pic: PA
The village of Brandon in Durham. Pic: PA
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.”
Monday night saw sub-zero temperatures for much of the UK, reaching as low as -11.2C at Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
Snowfall was also widely reported, with 12cm recorded at Watnall in Nottinghamshire on Tuesday morning.
Sam Drinkwater’s Granary Stables, Strensham, Worcestershire. Pic: PA
By Tuesday afternoon, around 140 school closures had been reported in Wales, around 50 in the West Midlands and 20 in Derbyshire.
There was also a travel headache for thousands of train passengers as National Rail warned of disruption to various routes.
By midday, around 64 of 120 services (53%) planned by East Midlands Railway had been cancelled or delayed by at least half an hour, according to punctuality website trains.im.
Carr Gate, West Yorkshire. Pic: PA
Figures for other operators included London North Eastern Railway (37%), Transport for Wales (13%), West Midlands Trains (13%) and CrossCountry (12%).
Rail travellers have been advised to check online before setting out and drivers should also plan ahead.
Luton, Bedfordshire
Buxton, Derbyshire. Pic: PA
Darren Clark, from National Highways, said: “Gritters will be out treating our roads around the clock when ice or snow is forecast, but it is still important to drive to the conditions.
“Keep your distance and reduce your speed, because even in conditions that seem normal, and where the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh grit has not been worked into the carriageway.
“Drivers should plan their journeys, monitor weather reports and pack a snow kit of blankets, food, water and a shovel.”
Snowfall in Warwick. Pic: PA
Brill, Buckinghamshire
Wednesfield in the West Midlands. Pic: Phil Bateman
The first amber cold health alert of the season has also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England, except the South, until 6pm on Saturday.
The amber warning is issued when the weather is likely to “cause significant impacts across health and social care services”, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among older people or those with health conditions.
An amber cold health alert covers most of England. Pic: UKHSA
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events at the UKHSA, said: “It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”
Yellow health alerts – the second lowest – are in place for the South East, South West and London.
Belper in Derbyshire. Pic: Ben Drane
More expected in coming days
The Met Office has warned there could be further heavy rain, strong wind and more snow during the rest of the week as temperatures stay below average
“Further snow accumulations are expected through the week, mostly by night at low levels, in northern Scotland and exposed parts elsewhere,” it said.
Snow and ice at Corgarff in Aberdeenshire. Pic: PA
A dusting of snow at Glenshee Ski Centre. Pic: PA
Snow and ice surround The Watchers sculpture at Corgarff in Aberdeenshire. Pic: PA
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office said there was also a slight chance some rural communities could be cut off.
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. Pic: Raj Patel
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
UK
Harshita Brella: Woman found in car boot in Ilford died from strangulation – as CCTV of suspect released
A woman whose body was found in the boot of a car last week died from strangulation, according to a post-mortem examination.
A manhunt is under way for Harshita Brella’s husband, Pankaj Lamba, who police believe has fled the country.
Officers said today that her body was discovered in a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
They believe she was killed on the evening of Sunday 10 November and driven in the early hours from the couple’s home in Corby, Northamptonshire, to Ilford in east London.
The body was found in a Vauxhall Corsa. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
Police believe Pankaj Lamba has fled the UK
It’s understood the 24-year-old had been under the protection of a court order for victims of domestic abuse.
Northamptonshire Police said officers began searching for her after receiving a call with concerns for her welfare on 13 November – the day before she was found dead.
A post-mortem examination found Ms Brella’s preliminary cause of death was strangulation, police said.
New CCTV images of Pankaj Lamba, 23, have also been released as the manhunt continues.
Ms Brella lived in Corby. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
The couple lived at an address in Skegness Walk. Pic: PA
Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands major crime unit, said: “We suspect Harshita’s body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby.
“Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford, and made his getaway.”
Northamptonshire Police, the East Midlands major crime unit and the National Crime Agency are working together to try to find him.
New CCTV of the suspect has been released
Pics: Northamptonshire Police
An inquest into Ms Brella’s death will be opened on 20 November at The Guildhall in Northampton.
Anyone who thinks they might have seen Pankaj Lamba is urged to make contact as soon as possible.
“Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita,” said DCI Campbell.
People with relevant information can call 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or online at mipp.police.uk
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