Labour councillor denies assault (From Southend Standard)

Labour councillor denies assault

11:00am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News

A LABOUR councillor has pleaded not guilty after being accused of kicking her neighbour in the shin.

Judith McMahon, 57, appeared before Southend Magistrates Court charged with assault.

She is alleged to have attacked Laura Schareina at the block of flats where they both live in Pleasant Road, Southend.

The Crown Prosecution Service charged her on the basis she had kicked the victim while they were both in the communal area of the flats.

It is alleged that the 33-year-old victim had suffered some bruising following the assault on August 21, but was otherwise unharmed.

McMahon stood in the dock dressed in a long floral dress and grey blazer, and was barely audible as she confirmed her name, date of birth, and address.

She pleaded not guilty to one count of assault by beating.

McMahon is a councillor for the Kursaal ward having won her seat in 2011, by a margin of 288 votes. She had previously served nine years in the role, until she was voted out in 2010, before making her comeback. McMahon was released on bail to stand trial on December 3.