'No further action' over claims against Batman star

Batman star Christian Bale will face no further action over an alleged assault on his mother and sister during a family row, the Crown Prosecution Service said tonight. (Getty)

Batman star Christian Bale will face no further action over an alleged assault on his mother and sister during a family row, the Crown Prosecution Service said tonight.

The 34-year-old actor was arrested last month by officers investigating claims he lashed out at his mother and sister.

A CPS spokesman said: "We can today confirm that we have advised the Metropolitan Police Service that the actor Christian Bale should not face any charges following an incident which occurred in relation to his mother and sister at the Dorchester hotel on 21 July this year.

"Whilst the CPS treats all incidents which take place in a domestic context seriously, it is important that the views of complainants are also taken into account when making decisions in such cases.

"Taking all the factors into consideration, the decision has been taken that there is insufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction, and accordingly the police have been advised that no further action should be taken against Mr Bale."

The incident took place in his Dorchester Hotel suite the night before the Leicester Square premiere of his latest film The Dark Knight.

Bale's mother Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 40, who both live in Dorset, made a formal complaint to Hampshire Police after the incident on 20 July.

The actor was arrested two days later after he attended the first European screening of the new Batman blockbuster with his wife, Sibi.

The father-of-one was questioned by detectives for several hours at Belgravia police station before being released on bail.

The allegations were not the first controversy to surround the film, which enjoyed record box office sales in its first weekend in the United States.

In January, 28-year-old Heath Ledger, who gave an Oscar-tipped performance as villain The Joker, died from an accidental drugs overdose.

Bale, a keen environmental activist and martial arts enthusiast, also starred in American Psycho, Empire Of The Sun and Batman Begins.