The man alleged to have been attacked by Stephen Tompkinson in a noise row outside the actor’s home told a court he has no recollection of the incident.

Mr Tompkinson is accused of striking one of two allegedly drunken men, who fell to the ground, suffering traumatic brain injury.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the incident took place amid an angry exchange on the pavement outside the drive way of the defendant’s Whitley Bay home, between 5.30 and 6am, on Sunday May 30, 2021.

Giving evidence on the opening day of the trial of the 57-year-old Stockton-born actor, the complainant was asked what recollection he had of the confrontation.

Read more: DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson of Whitley Bay charged with inflicting GBH

He replied: “Absolutely zero”, explaining that he had no memory of events from the Friday prior to the incident until he woke up in hospital on Wednesday June 2, when a nurse told him: “You have had a rough few days, haven’t you?”

Asked about his memory loss, he said he was told it was because of the head injury suffered in the incident.

The court heard the actor had come out of his home to remonstrate over the noise of the two men, who he said appeared drunk and one of whom could hardly stand.

Mr Tomkinson was said to have rung police to complain about the noise before confronting the pair outside, removing a bottle of Jagermeister from which they were drinking.

He accused them of disturbing his partner and child who were trying to sleep and he said he asked them to get on their way.

But a neighbour, who witnessed the incident, looked out and saw the defendant approaching one of the men, who was described as, “wobbling from side to side”.

She said he first struck him with his right hand, and then punched him with his left hand, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground, unconscious.

The witness asked her husband to ring the emergency services and an ambulance took the prone man to hospital, with paramedics apparently unaware at the time, of the severity of his injuries.

He was later found to have suffered several skull fractures, causing, “significant traumatic brain injuries”.

When the extent of his injuries became apparent, police, having taken the independent witness’s statement, returned to the defendant’s home and arrested him.

Read more: Stephen Tompkinson punched man making noise outside his home, court hears

In a later interview, the actor said he asked the two men to move on as they were disturbing his partner and child.

He claimed one of the pair approached him aggressively, so he put up his hand to prevent him getting nearer and to push him away.

Having looked to check the whereabouts of the other man, Mr Tompkinson said he then looked back to see the man he pushed away lying on the ground.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court the defendant denied having struck the other man aggressively.

“The Crown would say his claim of aggressive behaviour on the part of the two men is not supported by any evidence.”

He said the prosecution’s case is that the defendant’s account is, “nothing more than a direct attempt to deflect the blame on others for his wholly unjustified, aggressive actions towards (the victim).”

Earlier, as the jury was being empanelled, prior to being sworn in, the trial judge, The Recorder of Newcastle, Judge Paul Sloan, told them that the defendant, Mr Tompkinson, is a well-known actor.

“Many, if not all of you, will have seen him or will know of him.

“That in itself does not debar you from serving on the jury.”

They were told that the defendant denies a charge of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on the alleged victim, on May 30, 2021.

Judge Sloan said it is hoped that the jury would be able to retire to consider its verdict by the middle of next week.

The judge said “inevitably” there will be great media interest in the case, but he asked jurors to base their verdict purely on the evidence outlined in court and not on anything they may read or hear in the media.

Read next:

* Actor Stephen Tompkinson going on trial accused of inflicting GBH

* Stephen Tompkinson accused of causing 'traumatic brain injury' to man

* Stockton's Stephen Tompkinson denies GBH after incident in Whitley Bay

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Mr Tompkinson became a household name after starring as Father Peter Clifford in 1996’s Ballykissangel, and in the same year appeared in 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.

His trial continues tomorrow (Thursday May 4).