The DCI Banks star was accused of punching Karl Poole in the head after finding him and a friend drinking at the bottom of his driveway in the early hours of 30 May 2021.

Mr Poole fell to the ground and broke his skull when his head hit the pavement, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Tompkinson said during his trial that he did not punch Mr Poole and was "not responsible" for the double skull fracture he sustained.

The actor, who was living with his partner and seven-year-old son at the time, said he came out of his house at around 5:30am after hearing "strange noises".

Tompkinson said he challenged Mr Poole and his friend Andrew Hall who were both "heavily intoxicated".

Tompkinson added that when he spotted the men it was a "horrible sight" and he had been worried about glass breaking in an area where his partner's child plays.

Giving evidence in his defence, the Ballykissangel star said he put his hand out to stop Mr Poole coming towards him and made contact with his face but that it "wasn't enough to knock a sober man off his feet".

He said it would be "career suicide" to do something as outrageous as assault someone".

Prosecutors claimed Tompkinson "snapped" and "lashed out" at Mr Poole in "disgust" at his behaviour.

A neighbour of Tompkinson's from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said earlier in his trial she witnessed him slapping and punching a drunk man in the head.

On Thursday, a jury found him not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm after deliberating for just under two hours.