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.

Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly

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.

BBC