Former mayor of Woodstock back in court — this time on assault charges

Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch was back in a London courtroom as an assault trial got underway. CTV London’s Nick Paparella was there.

About a week after pleading guilty to blowing over the legal limit of alcohol while driving, the former Mayor of Woodstock Trevor Birtch was back in court, this time facing assault charges involving a woman.

The court heard that the charges stem from an incident on Oct. 30, 2023, which is the same date that he was arrested on the impaired driving charges in Oxford County.

The assault trial got underway with a male witness who was known to the alleged victim testifying.

He said he was at the Oxford Street address in London during the day.

The man said he saw Birtch, who had a smell of alcohol. He said there was yelling and screaming going on, “I saw his (Birtch) palm smack her in the face.”

The man got involved and tried to get Birtch to leave the property, but said he was reluctant to do so at first.

Then he testified that Birtch challenged, him saying, “He (Birtch) said, ‘You want to tussle? You want to go?’”

The witness said there was an ensuing physical scuffle before Birtch eventually left.

Charged with two counts of assault and one count of unlawful entry, Birtch has pleaded not guilty.

Hours after leaving London on the day in question, Birtch was arrested on the impaired driving charges just outside of Woodstock.

Now unemployed, the embattled former mayor has had a string of legal woes over the past two years. Birtch had two sexual assault trials held in London involving two separate women. A mistrial was declared in one case, and he was found guilty in the other. In that matter, he is expected to be sentenced in May.

This latest case was adjourned until March 12, when a date is expected to be chosen for the resumption of this trial.