Duke of Marlborough to appear in court accused of intentional strangulation
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, is accused of three offences between November 2022 and May 2024
Last updated 18th Dec 2025
The Duke of Marlborough, formerly known as Jamie Blandford, was expected to appear in court today (Thursday 18 December) charged with intentional strangulation, but the hearing has been adjourned to 5 January 2026 at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court.
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, is accused of three offences between November 2022 and May 2024, Thames Valley Police said.
The 70-year-old has been summonsed to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court following his arrest on May 13 last year.
The three charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation are alleged to have taken place in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, against the same person.
Spencer-Churchill, known to his family as Jamie, is the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a member of one of Britain's most aristocratic families.
He is well known to have had a long battle with drug addiction in the past.
Related to wartime prime minister Sir Winston - a first cousin, three times removed - and also distantly to Diana through the Spencer line, Spencer-Churchill inherited his dukedom in 2014, following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.
Prior to this, the twice-married Spencer-Churchill was the Marquess of Blandford, and also known as Jamie Blandford.
His ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace - Sir Winston's birthplace - in Woodstock.
But the duke does not own the 18th century baroque palace - and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a popular visitor attraction with parklands designed by "Capability" Brown.
In 1994, the late duke brought legal action to ensure his son and heir would not be able to take control of the family seat.
Blenheim is owned and managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation.