Actor Stephen Tompkinson punched a man who fell to the ground and suffered 'traumatic brain injuries', a court heard.
The DCI Banks star arrived at court on May 3 to stand trial after pleading not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man in North Tyneside last year.
Tompkinson stands accused of assaulting Karl Poole on Sunday, May 30, last year in Whitley Bay.
The actor pleaded not guilty when the charge was put to him while his barrister, Adam Birkby, said the issue in the case is self-defence.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch opened the trial and told jurors there were two calls made to emergency services between 5:30am and 6am on May 30, 2021.
He said Mr Tompkinson made the first call regarding two drunken men outside his address while the second came from a neighbour to report one of the two men lying unconscious in the street.
Mr Bunch said: "The prosecution say the defendant, angry at the noise the two men were making, ended up punching one of them, knocking him to the floor so that he banged his head and sustained traumatic brain injuries.
"The defendant claims he did not more than push away the man in self-defence after the two had come towards him".
Witness Mrs Davidson stated the two men were on the footpath at the end of Tompkinson's driveway while he stood in the middle and "watched as the defendant approached the two men who were wobbling from side to side".
The court heard the defendant "slapped Mr Poole with his right hand before punching him to the head with his left fist".
Mr Poole then stumbled and fell backwards hitting his head on the road where he lay unconscious, prompting the witness to ask her husband to call the ambulance.
Mr Bunch stated Tompkinson used his phone to record to separate clips of the men, but did not contact the ambulance himself.
Mr Poole was taken to hospital and it was discovered he had a "number of fractures to his skull resulting in significant traumatic brain injuries", the court heard.
The police returned following the witness statement and arrested Tompkinson, who told police he had asked the men to move on so they didn't disturb his partner and her child who were sleeping in the house.
Mr Bunch added: "[Mr Tompkinson] denied at any point striking out aggressively at Mr Poole."
Mr Poole explained he has "absolutely zero" memory of the events which took place that night.
Defence barrister Nicholas Lumley KC cross-examined Mr Poole and said: "I suggest you fell as a result of a simple push and I suggest the event, one way or another, you have exaggerated what happened that day."
Karl Poole's friend Andrew Hall was called as a witness and said he tried to "calm the situation down".
The case has been adjourned until tomorrow.
The judge explained the case is expected to continue until the middle of next week.
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