A CHIEF superintendent due to stand trial for assaulting his wife was too ill to come to court, a district judge said.

Northumbria Police officer Karl Wilson, 49, from Newcastle, was unable to attend his trial at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court and his case was adjourned.

He denies two counts of assault by beating and one count of criminal damage to a phone, said to have happened at an address in Newcastle on October 28.

He was due to appear at the court but did not attend and District Judge Paul Currer said the defence had made an application to vacate Thursday’s trial date due to Mr Wilson’s ill health.

Judge Currer said: "His GP has provided his opinion in a written document that unfortunately Mr Wilson is too ill to proceed."

He agreed to adjourn the case until May 15.