Stephen Tompkinson tells GBH trial it would be ‘career suicide’ to assault someone

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 Actor Stephen Tompkinson has told a court it would be “career suicide” for him to “do something as outrageous as assault someone”. “It would be career suicide to do something as outrageous as assault someone.” open image in gallery Court sketch of the actor as he took the stand in his trial Tompkinson said at the time of the alleged assault he was living in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, with his partner and her seven-year-old son. “It seemed to me they were the very definition of drunk and disorderly – they were making a lot of noise and they could barely stand up.” It was a horrible sight and I certainly didn’t want the rest of the household to be greeted by them when they woke up Stephen Tompkinson Tompkinson told the court he called 999 and was waiting to be connected to the police when he went outside and told the men: “Come on lads, look at the state of you, look at the time, there’s people asleep in the house, you can’t be doing this.” Asked if he was angry, Tompkinson said: “I think there was a bit of angriness in there, it was a horrible sight and I certainly didn’t want the rest of the household to be greeted by them when they woke up. “These weren’t boys, they were encroaching on middle aged men who shouldn’t get into a state where they can’t stand.” Tompkinson said he told the men he had called the police, and one of them replied: “Call who you f***ing like, I’m a social worker.” He told jurors: “I was absolutely dazzled by that.