Ex-councillor to stand trial over messages

Shaz Saleem, who denies the charges, was granted unconditional bail

A former Dudley councillor will face trial accused of sending threatening messages on an electronic device.

Shaz Saleem, 38, from Kingswinford, has previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of leaving voicemail messages of an offensive, indecent, menacing or obscene character.

At a hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Monday, district judge Michael Wheeler rejected that the case was out of time and set a trial date of 6 March 2025.

Mr Saleem was granted unconditional bail.

He had previously served in the Conservative cabinet of Dudley Council and later stood in the local elections as an independent candidate.

At a previous hearing, an issue was raised over jurisdiction and time limits in the case.

But Mr Wheeler told the court: "I set up this hearing in case it was necessary but now evidence has been served.

“There is no argument that the case was out of time, the only matter is the question of the trial.”

The district judge added the trial would take place at Walsall Magistrates' Court.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.