A former Swindon councillor accused of committing grievous bodily harm and coercively controlling his ex-partner has been given his trial date.

Oliver Donachie, 47, of St Austell Way is charged with wounding or inflicting GBH on a woman without intent on February 6, 2023.

He also faces one charge of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship.

In the plea and trial preparation on Tuesday (April 23) at Swindon Crown Court, Donachie’s trial was set for December 11.

It is expected the trial will last for five to seven days.

Swindon Advertiser: Oliver Donachie, former councillor accused of GBH and coercive control

Donachie was wearing a black three-piece suit, black tie and white shirt. He spoke to confirm that his plea to both counts is not guilty.

It is alleged that between December 29, 2015, and February 8, 2023, Donachie fitted cameras and a fingerprint lock around his house, and took away his then-partner's keys, bank cards, and mobile phone while they lived together.

During the previous magistrates' court hearing, prosecutor Keith Ballinger said police were informed on February 7, 2023, by a female hospital patient that significant injuries after a domestic-related incident were from a partner.

She told police this had followed years of similar behaviour. 

Mr Ballinger added: “She disclosed to police that she had been assaulted by her partner. She had been struck a number of times.

”She also disclosed a pattern of behaviour over a number of years.

”All her money is dealt with by him.

"At times, she has been locked in the house, a safe which needs fingerprints to unlock had hers taken off it, and there have been previous incidents of violence.”

The couple are no longer in a relationship.

Donachie was Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for economy and place during the previous Conservative administration until he resigned in May 2020 during a row over how the local authority was responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Later that year, in September, he proposed and then withdrew a vote of no confidence against the council’s then-leader David Renard and was heavily critical of him despite having nominated him during the leadership election before resigning.

Donachie then ran as an independent candidate in the 2021 local elections before losing his seat on the council.