A Liberal Democrat councillor has pleaded not guilty to hitting a seven-year-old child. Councillor Colin Rosenstiel, the longest serving representative on Cambridge City Council, appeared at Cambridge Magistrates Court charged with assault by beating.
Cambridge News reports that 64-year-old Rosenstiel, who has served on the city council for 37 years, is alleged to have hit the seven-year-old on November 2nd last year.
He appeared in court on Friday, speaking only to give his address, confirm his date of birth and enter his plea of not guilty. His trial is set to begin on July 15th this year.
Councillor Rosenstiel represents Market ward and served as the council’s deputy leader from 2000 to 2006.
Antoinette Jackson, the council’s Chief Executive, said that it would be inappropriate to comment given that the case is ongoing, but confirmed that if Rosenstiel is convicted, he will only be automatically disqualified from the council if sentenced to at least three months in prison.
The news comes as the media subject UKIP to heavy scrutiny, focusing on the misdemeanours of that party’s candidates in the run up to the European and local elections.
Last week, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Yeovil resigned after admitting stealing £1,000 from the Royal British Legion.
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