Ballykissangel actor Stephen Tompkinson cleared of punching drunk man outside his house

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

Actor Stephen Tompkinson arrives at Newcastle Crown Court (PA)

Actor Stephen Tompkinson has been cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man he confronted for drunkenly making noise outside his house.

Tompkinson, who played Father Peter Clifford in the Irish series Ballykissangel, 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 May 30 2021.