Spacey's mugging mystery

Kevin Spacey was today at the centre of a mystery after telling police he had been mugged - and then withdrawing the allegation.

The Oscar-winning actor told officers he was attacked and robbed of his mobile phone while walking his dog in a London park at 4.30am on Saturday.

He is said to have reported the assault to police within 30 minutes and was given hospital treatment for a minor head injury.

However, hours later, Spacey, 44, is believed to have gone back to the police station where he made the complaint and withdrawn the robbery claims.

Scotland Yard confirmed that a man in his forties had been mugged in a park in Kennington.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "He reported the robbery of his mobile phone while walking his dog in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park.

"He later contacted police that day and withdrew the allegation. That is the end of it from our point of view."

The spokesman could not confirm whether the man needed hospital treatment for his injuries.

The park is close to the Old Vic theatre, where the Hollywood star, who won Oscars for his roles in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, was made artistic director last year. He also lives nearby.

Spacey is believed to have been treated in the accident and emergency department of St Thomas' Hospital, and waited several hours before telling police he did not wish to pursue the matter, according to today's Daily Mirror.

The park is not known as a haunt for muggers.

In the past the actor has denied rumours that he is gay.

During an interview with the American magazine She four years ago, he said: "It's not that I want to create some mystique by maintaining a silence about my personal life.

"It's just that the less you know about me, the easier it is to convince you that I'm the character on the screen."

The American-born actor invested at least £100,000 of his own money in the Old Vic, pledging to revive the glory days of the 1,000-seat theatre, opened in 1818 and one of the oldest in London. He said at the time: "It's something I feel strongly about."

Spacey marked his appointment as artistic director by hosting a moneyraising concert with Sir Elton John, for which tickets cost up to £1,000. American singer and actress Courtney Love was the undoubted star of the show, wearing a Daffy Duck outfitto sing a duet with Sir Elton before stripping to her underwear.

In addition to his Oscars, Spacey received a Bafta award for American Beauty four years ago and has been nominated for three Golden Globes.

He has also won awards in the West End: his electrifying performance in The Ice Man Cometh - at the Old Vic - won him the Laurence Olivier Award.

Spacey has pledged to appear in at least two Old Vic plays a year, in addition to directing productions.

Last month he was reported to be hoping to entice one of Hollywood's leading actresses to star with him on the stage of the Old Vic in the comedy The Philadelphia Story.

People connected with the play were understood to have been sounding out the possibility of perhaps Cameron Diaz or Gwyneth Paltrow sharing top billing with him next spring.