Former political candidate Mark Aldridge vows to fight assault and firearms charges

A FORMER political candidate has appeared in court charged with assault and firearms charges over an incident in which he is accused of shooting at a group of youths.

A FORMER political candidate has appeared in court charged with assault and firearms charges over an incident in which he is accused of shooting at a group of youths.

Mark Marshall Aldridge, 51, who has run as an independent candidate in numerous state and federal elections, fronted the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He is yet to plead to aggravated assault using an offensive weapon, aggravated threatening to cause harm, discharging a firearm to injure, annoy or frighten and two counts of breach of bail.

The charges relate to an incident on January 2, when Aldridge allegedly confronted a group of hoons who had been doing burnouts and setting off fireworks near his Penfield Gardens property.

The case was adjourned and due to the seriousness of the allegations was transferred to the Adelaide Magistrates Court in April.

Outside court, Aldridge — son of Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge — claimed he and his family had received threatening phone calls and messages since the confrontation, and fireworks had been set off near his property.

Aldridge said he was prepared for trouble at his court hearing after learning of allegations posted on social media. Police say they are investigating this claim.

His appearance at court was, however, incident free.

Aldridge also said he would fight to clear his name.

He had previously been reported for failing to secure his firearms in May 2013, but police dropped the case a year later.

Aldridge complained to the Police Ombudsman, whose investigation into the grievance found there was no reasonable prospect for officers to pursue a gun charge against him.