Winston Churchill’s Cousin Charged with Three Counts of Strangulation

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Winston Churchill and Princess Diana, has been charged with intentional strangulation.

The 12th Duke of Marlborough, 70, was charged with three counts of intentional strangulation after allegedly attacking someone three times over the course of 18 months, the Thames Valley Police (TVP) confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. The charges come after his arrest on May 13, 2024.

Spencer-Churchill, formerly known as Jamie Blandford, is accused of attacking the same person three times, per the BBC. The incidents allegedly took place in Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England, between November 2022 and May 2024.

The alleged attacks were non-fatal, The Independent reported. The victim has not been publicly identified at this time.

Spencer-Churchill is the first cousin, three times removed, of Winston Churchill. He resides at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, his family’s ancestral estate and the birthplace of the late British Prime Minister. The estate is owned by the Unesco World Heritage Site, per the BBC.

The duke is set to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Dec. 18.

A spokesperson for the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation said in a statement, per The Independent, “Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is aware legal proceedings have been brought against the Duke of Marlborough.”

“The foundation is unable to comment on the charges, which relate to the duke’s personal conduct and private life, and which are subject to live, criminal proceedings,” the palace continued. “The foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but by independent entities run by boards of trustees.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

PEOPLE has reached out to Spencer-Churchill’s rep for comment.