Whittle 'struck photographer in frustration'

Ricky Whittle hit a photographer with his Dodge car out of frustration, Liverpool Crown Court has heard.

The ex-Hollyoaks actor has denied charges of dangerous driving brought against him by paparazzo Stephen Farrell regarding an alleged collision in the early morning on November 27.

Whittle was giving a lift to ex-girlfriend and former co-star Carley Stenson when the incident occurred near Liverpool's Parr Street studios.

Prosecutor Paul Becker accused the soap star of deliberately turning the wheel of his car to hit Farrell. The court was told that Farrell was standing next to the Dodge, but not blocking it at the time.

"The prosecution's case is that the defendant, irritated by the presence of the paparazzi, had deliberately turned his wheel to the left in order to vent his frustration towards Mr Farrell," said Becker.

"He deliberately turned his wheel to the left, knocking Mr Farrell to the ground." Farrell was treated for injuries to his knee and hands following the incident.

Becker told the court that Whittle and Farrell had given different accounts of what had happened.

Speaking under cross-examination from the defence, Farrell claimed that the picture of former lovers Whittle and Stenson together was the one "to have".

"With celebrities, it's a game," he said. "That's what it is. We are together, we are not together."

Farrell also said that in the past he had been willing to not take pictures of celebrities, but claimed that Whittle had not made any such request during the evening. Farrell told the court that he had previously declined to sell snaps of Hollyoaks actors drunk and covered in vomit.

The trial continues.