A SOUTH Somerset district councillor has appeared in court accused of beating a woman in a drunken town centre brawl in a Yeovil kebab shop.

Twenty-four-year-old Adam Dance appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, with two other co-defendants.

The councillor allegedly became involved in the altercation and was said to have pushed the female victim and then kicked her on the leg as she tried to assist her friend who was being assaulted by the other two co-defendants.

Dance, of South Street, South Petherton, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Emily Caines by beating her on June 12. A second allegation of assault against him was withdrawn.

Also appearing alongside him was BillieJo Rose Dance, 19, also of South Street, South Petherton, who denied a charge that she assaulted Macaylah Stacey by beating her during the same incident in Yeovil.

The third defendant, Ronnie Lee Young, 20, of Nelson Way, Yeovil, also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Macaylah Stacey by beating her.

Following a review of the case the allegations against all three defendants were adjourned until October 31 and November 1 when they must return to the court to stand trial.

In the meantime they were all released on conditional bail on the understanding that they do not contact Macaylah Stacey and Emily Caines directly or indirectly.

A spokesman for South Somerset district council has said they will not be taking action against Cllr Dance.

The spokesman said: "When a district councillor is elected, they agree to abide by the Council’s Code of Conduct. Any alleged breach of the code must have occurred when the councillor was acting in their ‘official capacity’ i.e. they must be clearly acting as a representative of the council.

"A councillor is entitled to a private life and what they do in their private life is not a matter for the Code of Conduct.

"There will therefore be no suspension of his Council duties while proceedings run their course."