Two councillors plead not guilty to assault and affray charges

Two councillors have pleaded not guilty to affray and assault charges following an incident in Cradley Heath last year.

Sandwell councillors Daniel Millard and Claire Mayo both pleaded not guilty to separate charges of affray and assault at Dudley Magistrates Court on Tuesday (February 24) following an incident in Surfeit Hill Road, Cradley Heath, in the early hours of July 20 last year.

Daniel Millard, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to one count of affray, another count of aiding an affray and one count of assault by beating. 

Claire Mayo, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to two counts of affray and two counts of assault by beating.

The pair were granted conditional bail following the short hearing and will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on March 24. 

Mr Millard and Ms Mayo were both suspended by the Labour Party following the incident but remain as independent councillors on Sandwell Council.

Mr Millard, a former cabinet member at the Labour-run authority, has represented the Blackheath ward since 2015 and Ms Mayo represents the Rowley ward having been elected in 2022.