EastEnders hardman smashed my face in after vicious row over dog poo as I walked pet in park, claims disabled victim
EASTENDERS hardman Scott Maslen fought with a disabled dog-walker in a row over picking up poo in a park.
MS sufferer Michael Kelly has spoken to cops after accusing the Jack Branning star, 53, of fracturing his eye socket in London.
He told the actor, who denies starting the brawl: “You’re not on EastEnders now.”
Kelly, 55, said he and the star both ended up on a park floor as the row turned into a brawl.
He says he was left with whiplash and needed hospital treatment.
Sources close to Mr Maslen — who as hardman Jack Branning recently punched his 16th character, landing 39 blows in the soap — last night said there had been a “scuffle”.
But he insisted he did not start it while walking his labrador Chewbacca.
Mr Kelly, who owns a four-year-old labradoodle called Ned, has given a statement to police who are investigating.
The former charity worker has multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the central nervous system which affects his balance.
He said: “I sometimes use a wheelchair and need a stick, but try to keep active.
“Walking my dog gets me out of the house, and is good for me.
“On this occasion I took Ned to Regent’s Park. 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.
“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. 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 shouted, ‘Who do you think you are?’. He kept calling me a mug. ‘You mug, you’re such a mug, you’re a f***ing mug’. I was shocked but said, ‘You’re the mug’. I replied, ‘Who do you think you are? What are you doing?’”
Park brawl
Mr Kelly claimed the argument then turned into a brawl with both men on the floor.
He went on: “A woman dog-walker screamed and said she was ringing 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.”
Mr Kelly said he was dripping in blood from his face and head as he drove back to his daughter’s home in Islington, North London.
He said: “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.”
Pals of Mr Maslen said there had been a row with a man in Regent’s Park who had not picked up his dog’s poo.
A source said: “The bloke wasn’t on his phone and just appeared to be staring at his dog’s business, refusing to pick it up.
“Scott asked him if he was going to pick it up, and if he wanted a poo bag to do so.
“A row started, escalated by the other man who grabbed Scott.
“He started a fight. They were on the floor but as soon as it was over Scott walked away.”
Mr Maslen became a household name as Detective Sergeant Phil Hunter in police drama The Bill between 2002 and 2007.
He made his debut as Albert Square Romeo Jack, the brother of Max and April Branning, in 2007, and has been a regular since, barring a two-year break from 2013.
His storylines have included a romance with Ronnie Mitchell (played by his real-life pal Samantha Womack) and an affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
In 2010 he took a brief break from the soap to compete in Strictly Come Dancing, partnering pro dancer Natalie Lowe.
They finished fourth, beaten by Pamela Stephenson, Matt Baker and series champion Kara Tointon.
Mr Maslen also appeared in Celebrity MasterChef in 2015, and he has previously played Claude Speed in the live-action trailer for Grand Theft Auto 2.
Married to Estelle, they have a grown-up son and live in North London, close to Regent’s Park.
The couple bought their four- bedroom pad for £1.2million two months before they got married in September 2008. The swish property has four bathrooms, a patio garden and a roof terrace.
Last night the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were investigating the park brawl.
Mr Maslen was approached for comment.