Oscar-winning film star Kevin Spacey came clean today about why he told police he had been mugged but then dropped the complaint.

The actor said he reported "the attack" after a youth conned him into handing over his mobile while he was walking his dog in a London park early on Saturday.

He said he actually injured himself when he tripped over his pet as he chased the youth.

But he told police he had been attacked in the hope they would "run out and find this kid a block later".

Mr Spacey, who was made artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre last year, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am very well, and I am also glad to set the record straight here and also to apologise, because there is no reason that this article would have been written if it hadn't been for me and what I initially said to the police.

'I fell for a con'

"What actually happened is, I fell for a con. And I was, I think, incredibly embarrassed by it. Some sob story about somebody needing to call their mother and could they use my phone.

"It was such a good con, that I actually dialled the number myself and when somebody answered I then finally handed (over) my phone.

"And this kid took off and I was so upset I ran after him.

"It was late in the morning and I was walking my dog, it was about 4am, and I tripped up over my dog, and I ended up falling on to the street and hitting myself in the head.

"And now I'm bleeding relatively profusely, I'm extremely upset, I feel like the biggest fool that has ever lived.

Police station

"I march over to the police station and I say I got mugged. And I'm thinking they are going to run out and find this kid a block later. Of course they take me to the hospital, and they were very kind.

"That is one of the reasons I went back on Saturday morning to the police station.

"Because I woke up after a couple of hours' sleep and I thought you know there is a difference between assault and theft and it just wasn't on for me to not come clean about my own level of embarrassment and being humble at the fact that I got taken by the oldest con going.

"I just want to apologise to the police, and any readers and anyone who picks up this story thinking it is actually true.

"I'm fine. It is probably good that I got bumped on the head because obviously I wasn't thinking."

Dog walking

Mr Spacey was asked what he was doing in the park at 4am. He said: "You know walking your dog in the park is a perfectly normal thing to do, but you know I think that they are always trying to, you know, (say) 'What was he doing in that park at 4.30am?'. My doggy had to go!"

Mr Spacey, 44, who won Oscars for his roles in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, told police he was attacked in the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park in Lambeth, south London.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man attended a London police station at about 5am on April 17 suffering a minor head injury.

"He reported robbery of his mobile phone whilst 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."