EastEnders star Scott Maslen has been accused of assaulting a disabled man over a row about dog poo in a London park.
The actor, 53, and former star of The Bill currently plays police officer Jack Branning in the long-running BBC soap.
It has been reported that the star attacked a disabled dog walker during a heated confrontation in Regent’s Park.
Michael Kelly, 55, alleges that he was with his dog, a four-year-old labradoodle named Ned when he became aware of a man shouting behind him.
He claims that the subsequent row turned violent, leaving him with injuries which required hospital treatment – including stitches and a fractured eye socket.
The former charity worker has multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease which affects balance.
Speaking to The Sun, Kelly said that he had been talking on his phone when the EastEnders star approached.
‘He was running around and I was on the phone when I became aware of a man shouting behind me. I didn’t take much notice and carried on chatting to my son-in-law. Suddenly it was unavoidable to ignore the man,’ he said.
‘Ned had gone to the toilet. I hadn’t picked the poo up quickly enough, because I was on the phone, and this man was furious.
‘He was wearing headphones, a shooting jacket and matching green cap, waterproof wellies and trousers.’
He claims that the actor continued shouting ‘obscenities’ at him, shouting, ‘Who do you think you are?’ and repeatedly calling him ‘a mug.’
‘Of course, I was going to pick up the dog poo but he didn’t give me a chance. He was shouting obscenities. I told him I’d pick it up when I was ready. It was unbelievable,’ he continued.
He claims that the argument then turned physical, with both men on the ground in the park – during which a woman called the police.
‘As I struggled to get up I recognised the man and said, “You’re in EastEnders”. I gathered my thoughts and said, “You’re not in EastEnders now. This is real life.”
‘I managed to take two photographs at the scene,’ he added.
Following the confrontation, Kelly returned to his daughter’s home in Islington, South London.
He told the tabloid: ‘I went to the hospital and needed stitches in my nose, and they cleaned up cuts to my head. I had whiplash.
‘They said I’d fractured my eye socket. It’s unbelievable. I have had to see the eye specialist for ongoing treatment. I have another appointment in eight weeks.’
According to The Sun, the Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident. Maslen denies that he started the fight.
