The personal life of champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa has spilled into the courtroom after a shocking incident involving his former wife.
Just weeks after celebrating another win on the racetrack, he has found himself tied to a serious legal case.
The Allegations Against Victoria de Sousa
His ex-wife, Victoria de Sousa, 39, is accused of assaulting him on July 27, an attack that prosecutors claim was meant to cause grievous bodily harm.
Remarkably, despite the alleged incident, the 44-year-old jockey was back in the saddle the very next day, riding to victory at Yarmouth.
Court Appearance Postponed
Victoria, a mother of three, was set to be formally arraigned this week at Cambridge Crown Court.
But the case did not move forward as planned.
Judge Andrew Hurst decided to postpone proceedings until September 12, after her lawyer, Ella Ripper, explained that Victoria had not yet decided on her plea.
The judge expressed his frustration, pointing out that nearly a month had passed since her first appearance in court at Ipswich, yet there was still no clarity.
“We need to get a grip on this case,” he remarked.
Bail Conditions and the Ankle Tag Debate
As part of her conditional bail, Victoria has been required to wear an electronic ankle tag.
However, her legal team pushed for its removal, arguing it was interfering with her work.
Her lawyer told the court that the tag prevents her from wearing the special boots needed to ride horses, something she does before her students take to them.
She even suffered a fall recently while trying to ride in ankle boots. According to her, the restriction is costing her around £5,000 a month in lost riding fees.
Despite the plea, the judge refused to remove the tag, leaving her to continue under the same conditions.
A Champion Still in the Spotlight
While the legal drama unfolds, Silvestre de Sousa remains one of the most decorated names in horse racing.
Earlier this year, he pocketed £90,000 after steering My Cloud to victory at Royal Ascot in the Royal Hunt Cup.
His track record includes multiple Group 1 wins, with his latest major triumph coming in October, when he rode Charyn to success at Ascot, earning a staggering £650,000.
What’s Next in the Case?
All eyes are now on the next hearing in September, where Victoria will be expected to finally enter a plea.
Until then, the jockey continues his career at the top of the sport, while his ex-wife remains under tight bail restrictions.
