Actor Stephen Tompkinson will appear at Newcastle Crown Court facing a single charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

The 56-year-old, who has appeared in a string of top TV series over the last three decades, is facing a trial after denying the allegation at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on 10 August.

He is probably best known for playing Alan Banks in DCI Banks and was also in Grafters, In Deep, Wild At Heart and Trollied, after his breakthrough role in Drop The Dead Donkey in the 1990s.

A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Stephen Tompkinson, aged 56, of Whitley Bay, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday August 10 to face a single charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

“He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday September 7.”

Tompkinson became widely known after starring as Father Peter Clifford in 1996’s Ballykissangel, in the same year as he appeared in hit film Brassed Off as character Phil.

Other notable TV credits include Minder, New Tricks, Ted And Alice and the children’s show Little Red Tractor.

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He is due to feature in ITV drama The Long Shadow about Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe later this year.

The actor, who recently starred in a stage adaptation of Educating Rita as Frank Bryant, was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, in October 1965.

PA has asked his representatives to comment.

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