A SENIOR Teignbridge councillor has been remanded in custody after appearing in court today (October 31) charged with the attempted murder of a woman in Chudleigh.

Douglas Hellier Laing, 67, found himself in the dock at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court this morning after an incident at his Clifford Road home where a woman, reportedly his wife Sue, was allegedly hit over the head with a mallet.

The casualty was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries on Sunday. It’s understood she left hospital this morning.

Hellier Laing’s arrest and subsequent appearance in court on such a serious charge has left fellow councillors and Chudleigh residents in a state of shock and disbelief.

A typical reaction was: ‘You’re joking. It’s difficult to make sense of it all. I can’t believe it.’

One Chudleigh resident, who knows the couple, said: ‘It’s dreadful news. Sue is a lovely woman.’

The defendant, did not enter a plea at the court session. He was remanded in custody till a hearing at Exeter Crown Court on November 30.

The ex-army man, who rents out properties locally, serves on Teignbridge Council’ s influential executive committee.

The top Tory member, also a town councillor, was in the news this summer for posting controversial comments on social media.

His position in local politics has now been thrown into doubt, unless he is cleared of the charge.

Teignbridge Council leader Jeremy Christophers admitted to be being in ‘a state of shock’ by the unfolding events.

He revealed that it had been unusual that he had not heard from his political ally for a few days.

Police this morning confirmed: ‘A man has been charged with attempted murder following an incident in Chudleigh.

‘Officers were notified on Sunday to reports of a concern of welfare of a woman at a property on Clifford Street.

‘The woman was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.’