A councillor is facing trial accused of assaulting and stalking his wife over a row allegedly sparked by a roast dinner he cooked for her birthday.
Dominic de Souza was arrested at the family home after police were called following the argument, during which he was accused of failing in his 'husbandly duties', a court hearing was told.
He was ordered not to approach his wife, Chloe, or their three children but allegedly breached the instructions on nine occasions.
The 46-year-old, who became a member of Attleborough Town Council in 2022, was due to face a trial today over the allegations.
But the case was put back by a year because the Crown Prosecution Service had failed to review the case until last week and hadn’t handed over evidence to the defence.
District Judge Matthew Bone, sitting at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court, told the defendant: ‘It’s a crying shame that your trial cannot go ahead.
‘I’m sorry but due to the fact this court was extremely busy today, you’ve heard the CPS only reviewed your case some seven days before trial.
‘Both parties say it’s in the interest of justice to adjourn. There’s missing witnesses, missing disclosure. I have made directions that this should not happen again.
Dominic de Souza, 46, denies assault by beating following an alleged dispute with his wife, Chloe, after he cooked her a roast dinner on her birthday. He also denies stalking charges
‘I’m afraid [the trial is set for] April 22 next year, due to the backlog of cases here.’
De Souza, who wore a dark suit, patterned yellow tie and Doc Marten-style ankle boots as he sat impassively in the dock, was warned that he remained subject to the same bail conditions already imposed.
These state he must not contact his wife directly or indirectly, except through solicitors, and is banned from visiting the housing estate where she lives.
During a hearing in September last year, Norwich Magistrates Court was told that de Souza had been cooking dinner the previous March when his wife accused him of ‘lacking in husbandly qualities’.
Police were called to the family’s house in the historic market town and the defendant was accused of assault.
Restrictions on his movements around the town were subsequently imposed but the defendant allegedly turned up at locations where he ‘would have known’ his wife would be on nine occasions.
Prosecutor Jackie Hanlon said de Souza was aware of the ‘particular routine’ of his wife.
District Judge Matthew Bone put the case back to April 22 next year after being told the prosecution had failed to review the case until last week and evidence had not been handed to the defence
But Ian Fisher, defending, said his client had been carrying out council duties with another town councillor on two of the alleged dates and had not attempted to approach his wife.
‘Since my client was arrested, there has been a barrage of posts by the alleged victim on social media, with messages intended for him,’ he added.
‘These posts are looking to encourage a reaction. He has not responded to these.'
District Judge Bone said at the time: ‘Attleborough is quite a small town and the charge of stalking seems to be on the basis that he happened to be around when she turned the corner.
‘There is no suggestion that he has spoken to her or is even looking at her. She has just seen him going about his business as a town councillor.’
He agreed to relax de Souza's bail conditions to permit him to see his children.
During the hearing, the defendant denied assault by beating on March 16 and stalking between April 23 and May 10.
The trial will take place at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court next year
Speaking afterwards, he said: ‘I'm on Attleborough Town Council to serve the community and if people want me to resign then I will.
‘I don't want to bring the council down any more than it has been.’
The comment appeared to refer to the council being dubbed ‘Battleborough’ following a series of scandals that have infuriated locals and seen members heckled and told to resign at public meetings.
They include one councillor, Stephen Fraser, being convicted of criminal damage in July last year after he threw stones at a shop window following a night out drinking.
Another councillor, Taila Taylor, was in the area at the time but didn’t report the matter. She later explained she had not witnessed the offence taking place.
Friction has grown further after it emerged the council was funding therapy for any members who felt they needed it. There has also been criticism of councillors’ business dealings, leading to unflattering cartoons appearing on social media.
Members argue they have been unfairly targeted in a ‘hate campaign’ and have had people banging on their homes and damaging their property.
An interim hearing about the allegations against de Souza will take place on June 6 this year but he is not obliged to attend.