Councillor pleads not guilty to assault charge

A district councillor will stand trial next year after being charged with assault, possessing a blade in public and resisting arrest.

Justin Rundle appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to the three charges, which followed an incident in Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, last month.

The independent Great Yarmouth borough councillor pleaded guilty to a Bail Act offence of failing to appear at court.

The 49-year-old said he had written down the wrong date for the hearing last week. He had to spend a night in a cell after handing himself in to the police, who had issued a warrant for his arrest.

Rundle, of West Road, Ormesby, has been a district councillor for the Ormesby ward since 2023 and has also served on Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby Parish Council.

He is alleged to have assaulted a woman in Caister on 22 June. He was arrested the following day at his home.

District judge Matthew Bone fined Rundle £100 and ordered him to pay a £40 surcharge for missing the court hearing last week, but said he would not have to pay as he had spent a night in a cell.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has said it cannot comment due to the active legal proceedings.

Rundle can remain a councillor despite facing the criminal charges.

By law, councillors would be disqualified from holding office only if convicted and given a jail sentence of three months or more.

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