Champion jockey’s ex-wife facing trial accused of wounding former husband

The ex-wife of a three-time champion jockey is facing trial for allegedly wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Mother-of-three Victoria de Sousa, 39, from Newmarket, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday after being committed for trial by magistrates following an alleged assault on Silvestre de Sousa in July.

Former jockey de Sousa was scheduled to have been arraigned at the hearing but the case was adjourned until September 12 after her counsel, Ella Ripper, said her client had not yet managed to consult her trial barrister.

Judge Andrew Hurst said: "I am concerned we have got to today, almost a month after Mrs De Sousa's appearance at Ipswich, and effectively she is unclear about what her plea is," said Judge Hurst.

"We need to get a grip on this case," he added, according to a report in the Newmarket Journal. The court was told de Sousa was on conditional bail which included a requirement to wear an electronic tag.

Ms Ripper applied for the tag to be removed as it made it difficult to wear riding boots and carry out her job as a riding instructor.

"She has specific riding boots she has to wear and has to ride horses before the children she teaches ride them," she said.

"Recently she had a fall because she was wearing ankle boots. The tag is preventing her doing her job properly and she is losing about £5,000 a month as a result of being electronically tagged." Judge Hurst denied the application.

Silvestre de Sousa, born in Brazil, is one of the most successful Flat jockeys in Britain, having won the championship three times.

His major wins include the 1,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes, Juddmonte International and Dubai World Cup. Last year he rode top miler Charyn to wins in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, Prix Jacques le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The 44-year-old has ridden 39 winners this year out of a British career total of 1,958.