Sandwell Councillors Maintain Innocence in Cradley Heath Pub Incident Case
Two councillors from Sandwell have once again entered not guilty pleas to charges of assault and affray stemming from an alleged altercation outside a pub in Cradley Heath last summer. The suspended Labour councillors, Daniel Millard and Claire Mayo, reaffirmed their innocence during a recent hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Court Proceedings and Delayed Trial Timeline
The legal proceedings have faced multiple delays, with the arraignment initially postponed to allow both defendants to secure separate legal representation. At the latest court session, Millard and Mayo pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. Their legal representative, Blaise Morris, who is now solely acting for Millard, requested the dismissal of an aiding and abetting affray charge, for which no plea was entered.
A ten-day trial is currently set to commence on July 23, 2029, although Judge Simon Ward indicated that the court might advance the date if an earlier slot becomes available. Recorder Rupert Jones previously apologized for the three-year delay, attributing it to significant backlogs within the court system.
Details of the Charges and Co-Defendants
The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred outside the Moon Under Water pub on High Street in Cradley Heath in the early hours of July 20 last year. Millard faces one count of affray, one count of aiding an affray, and one count of assault by beating. Mayo is charged with two counts of affray and two counts of assault by beating.
Other individuals involved in the case include co-defendant Mitchel Weston, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one charge of affray. Kelsea Stott also denied charges of sending an electronic message with intent to cause distress and aiding an affray in connection with the same event.
Political Repercussions and Current Status
Following the incident, both Millard and Mayo were suspended by the Labour Party but continue to serve as independent councillors on Sandwell Council. Millard, a former cabinet member, has represented the Blackheath ward since 2015, while Mayo was elected to the Rowley ward in 2022. Notably, neither councillor is listed as a candidate in the upcoming local elections in May, marking a significant shift in their political trajectories amid the ongoing legal battle.
