THE trial of a former Tory councillor charged with drink driving has been adjourned until later in the year.

Joe Miller, 27, has been charged with driving a black BMW 420 on the A27 at Hollingbury in September 2020 while over the limit.

The case was adjourned after the court was told one of the police witnesses was unable to attend.

The court heard that central to the case is a panic attack Miller had prior to giving police a blood sample.

The charge states he had 134 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millitres of blood in his system, the legal limit being 80 milligrammes.

Miller, of The Woodside, Slaugham Manor, Slaugham, has previously said his decision to quit Brighton and Hove City Council and Lewes District Council was unconnected to the ongoing legal proceedings.

He appeared in the dock at Brighton Magistrates’ court on Tuesday to confirm his name, age and address and to deny the charge.

The former councillor is being represented by John Dye, who has previously represented Alan Carr’s ex-husband Paul Drayton on drink-driving charges. He has also defended Katie Price and footballer Jack Grealish. Prosecuting the case on Tuesday was Maria Slater.

District Judge Adrian Turner said it was “most unfortunate” that the trial was not going ahead as planned, adding that the case had been ongoing for nearly two years and has been adjourned on several occasions.

In such cases, he added, "every effort should be made to make sure it doesn’t happen again”.

A hearing is due to take place on July 7 to determine a date for the new trial.