Gaunt-looking actor Stephen Tompkinson arrives at court to stand trial accused of GBH
Stephen Tompkinson arrived at Newcastle Crown Court where he is to go on trial accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Gaunt-looking actor Stephen Tompkinson has arrived at court to stand trial accused of GBH. Tompkinson, 57, is best known for starring in ITV drama Wild At Heart and playing the title role in the TV crime drama DCI Banks.
The star is appearing at Newcastle Crown Court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man named Karl Poole on May 30 2021, allegations which he denies.
The actor, who lives in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, denies the charge.
The trial is expected to last four days.
Tompkinson arrived at the court wearing a grey Prince of Wales check jacket with matching trousers and waistcoat.
The actor also wore a black shirt with a matching tie.
Tompkinson became a household name after starring as Father Peter Clifford in 1996’s Ballykissangel, and in the same year appeared in the hit film Brassed Off.
Other notable TV credits include Drop The Dead Donkey, Wild At Heart, Minder, New Tricks, Grafters and Ted And Alice.
He also appeared in ITV’s DCI Banks for six years until the show was axed in 2016, and starred in a 2021 stage adaptation of Educating Rita.
Tompkinson has been married twice.
He first wed radio producer Celia Anastasia. They divorced in 1995 and he became engaged to his Ballykissangel co-star Dervla Kirwan, 51.
Their romance only lasted two years later and he went on to marry Nicci Taylor in 2001. They share one daughter named Daisy.
Tompkinson and Nicci announced their divorce in 2006 and he went on to have a long-term relationship with Elaine Young. However, in 2020 he told The Sun: “That’s all finished.”