Jury in Stephen Tompkinson GBH trial retires to consider verdict

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jurors in the trial of actor Stephen Tompkinson were told his “talent makes him convincing in putting across a story” as they retired to consider their verdict. Mr Bunch said Tompkinson had argued his profession made him less likely to assault anyone because it would be “career suicide”. “Do we think about anything else other than that which has made us see red?” The prosecutor said the jury might think Tompkinson’s “obvious talent makes him convincing in putting across a story”. Nicholas Lumley KC, defending Tompkinson, said he was an actor “sought out by producers because of his calmness” and asked: “Why would he risk throwing away that hard earned reputation?” Jurors heard Mr Poole and Mr Hall had been drinking since midnight that bank holiday Sunday and had gone to the beach before passing Tompkinson’s home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, on the walk back.