Gloucestershire councillor accused of assault 'acted in self-defence'

Councillor Nick Housden is on trial at Cirencester Crown Court

A councillor who is accused of assaulting his ex-business partner acted in self defence, a court heard.

Conservative Nick Housden denies an actual bodily harm (ABH) charge, during an altercation with Gerry McGinty.

The Stroud District and Gloucestershire County councillor allegedly assaulted Mr McGinty at his party office in 2022.

But the jury at Cirencester Crown Court was told by Mr Housden's defence team that it was Mr McGinty who laid in the "first punches".

Giving evidence, Mr McGinty - who suffered a 1.5ins (4cms) long injury - said Mr Housden had acted after he was effectively "sacked" from the Bridge Football Academy business they ran together with another man, after working relationships broke down.

'He blocked my car in'

Mr McGinty told the court the business owned the lease to the office from where Mr Housden ran his councillor affairs.

He said that he had pre-warned Mr Housden he would be "kicked out" of the office and the "locks would be changed".

"[But] he burst through the door and it swung open and the locksmith took a step back in shock," Mr McGinty said.

"He told me that he had blocked my car in, so I couldn't leave. We then had a discussion around the company about why he had been removed as a director."

As the conversation got heated Mr McGinty decided to phone the police.

'Snap head backwards'

"I looked down at the phone - saw out of the corner of my eye Mr Housden approach," he continued.

"He attempted to grab the phone out of my hand. That was the point Mr Housden pushed or punched my head."

Mr McGinty said the force was enough to "snap his head backwards".

Mr Housden admits hitting his former business partner but denies the ABH charge.

He previously stepped back from his role as cabinet member for public health at the county council.