27 April 2023 , 14:23
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Tom Daley's husband Dustin Lance Black is facing a trial accused of assault by beating after an alleged nightclub altercation.
Black, 48, who married the Olympic diver in 2017, pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.
The screenwriter, who shares two children with Tom, is accused of assaulting Teddy Edwardes, known for BBC3 show The Big Proud Party, on August 18.
A trial date has been set for August 8.
Teddy has previously alleged that Dustin threw a drink over her at London's Freedom nightclub, during an evening out.
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She claims she responded by giving Dustin "a little tap on the back of the head" before he rang the police and she was removed from the club.
Dustin Lance Black with husband Tom Daley (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
He pleaded not guilty to assaulting Teddy Edwardes (instagram.com/teddyedwardes)In an Instagram post, she claimed to have gone for a couple of quiet drinks when she bumped into the pair.
Edwardes alleged: "For everyone asking what happened, we basically invited them to where we were sitting and I bought them some drinks etc, everything was fine.
"And then this random guy came and sat with us and my friend said they felt uncomfortable because they didn’t know who it was so I asked security if they could move them on…
Dustin has had a trial set for August (Getty Images for Critics Choice)"The security came to move them on and Tom’s husband started going mad saying how welcome I’ve made him feel and that was leaving, so I was like OK. Then got straight drink thrown in my face."
Edwardes said she responded with "a little tap on the head."
She added that Tom was lovely throughout and was trying to calm down the situation.
A spokesperson for Dustin Lance Black has told the Mirror: "Mr. Black was surprised and saddened to learn that after the other person involved in this unfortunate incident took responsibility and expressed remorse for a punch to the back of Mr Black’s head - which left him with a life altering concussion - a decision was made to now examine the matter of a spilled drink in a court of law.
"Of course Mr. Black will respect the process, and in the meantime will continue to focus on being a loving father and husband."
A spokesman for the Met Police told the Mirror: "Police were called at 00:29hrs on Thursday, 18 August to a club in Wardour Street following reports of an altercation involving a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s.
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Teddy Edwardes is known for BBC3 show The Big Proud Party Agency (Teddy Edwardes/Instagram)The spokesman added that Dustin was charged on February 17, and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, adding he will appear at the same court on August 8.
The Sun reports Black appeared via videolink at court, gave his address as Los Angeles and was released on unconditional bail.