A former Dudley councillor will face trial for sending threatening messages on an electronic device after a judge rejected a bid to drop the charges.

Shaz Saleem previously served in the Conservative cabinet at the authority but, after ceasing to be a member of the party, he stood in 2024 local elections as an independent candidate in the Kingswinford and Wall Heath ward.

He also stood in the new Kingswinford and South Staffordshire constituency in July’s general election.

Mr Saleem, aged 38 of Ploverdale Crescent, Kingswinford, has previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of leaving voicemail messages that were of an offensive, indecent, menacing or obscene character.

He appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court on November 11 for a hearing to determine whether his trial would go ahead after, at a previous hearing, an issue was raised over jurisdiction and time limits in the case.

At the latest hearing, District Judge Michael Wheeler said: “I set up this hearing in case it was necessary but now evidence has been served.

“There is no argument that the case was out of time, the only matter is the question of the trial.”

The trial date was confirmed as March 6 and will take place at Walsall Magistrates Court. Mr Saleem was granted unconditional bail.