Jodie Marsh to Stand Trial Next Year Over Assault Charges

Former glamour model Jodie Marsh has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man and will stand trial next year, according to court proceedings reported on April 17, 2026.

Marsh, 47, appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Friday where she denied assaulting Christopher Hynes by beating him on January 16 of this year. She also pleaded not guilty to two counts of using threatening words or behaviour on the same date in Dunmow, Essex, one in respect of Mr Hynes and one in respect of Susan Hammond.

Confirming her identity in court, Marsh provided her date of birth and stated her address as her solicitor’s office in London. Deputy district judge Rhys Rosser released her on unconditional bail until her trial at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on May 7, 2027.

The alleged incident took place at Fripps Farm, Marsh’s animal sanctuary in Lindsell, near Great Dunmow, Essex. The sanctuary, which she founded in 2020, houses alpacas, emus and reptiles across its 3.5-acre site and was partly funded through her OnlyFans activity.

Marsh rose to fame in the ITV series Essex Wives in 2002 and became a regular figure in tabloid newspapers. Her sanctuary was the subject of a legal battle in 2025 when she took Uttlesford District Council to court after it refused to grant her a wild animal licence. A judge in that case noted there was “considerable animosity” between Marsh and members of the local community, though he acknowledged she “genuinely cares” for the animals at her sanctuary.

The judge who heard her licence appeal directed that it should be granted with conditions. Last year, he ruled that Marsh could keep lemurs at her animal sanctuary in Lindsell, nine miles north west of Braintree, following complaints that had led to the initial refusal of the licence application.

Marsh told a court hearing that online trolls were behind much of the criticism of her sanctuary. An Essex Police spokesman confirmed officers were called to an address in Lindsell at approximately 12:40pm on Friday, January 16, in connection with the incident.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Marsh said “thank you” to the judge. She is scheduled to stand trial at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on May 7, 2027.