The father of reality television personality Adam Collard has been charged with assaulting his son. Billy Collard, a multi-millionaire property developer, is set to face trial in August following an incident that occurred in Newcastle last September.
Adam Collard, who is expecting his second child with fiancée Laura Woods, has publicly spoken highly of his father, describing him as an "inspiring person." Woods, a TV presenter, is currently in the United States covering the World Cup for ITV. The couple began their relationship in October 2023 and announced their first pregnancy in July of the following year.
Billy Collard, also known as William, has an estimated net worth of £3 million, derived from a property portfolio reportedly generating an annual income of £140,000. Despite his wealth, he was previously convicted of benefit fraud. In 2008, he admitted to making a false statement to obtain income support by failing to disclose assets, resulting in a two-year conditional discharge and a £2,000 court cost order. He also repaid the dishonestly obtained funds.
In a separate legal matter in 2019, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) seized £44,000 from Collard under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Although a court approved the confiscation, the money was later returned after a successful appeal. Prior to these incidents, in March 2015, Billy Collard was arrested after being involved in an assault on a neighbor and her daughter during a dispute over parking.
Collard resides in a farmhouse valued at an estimated £364,000 in the village of Horsley, Northumberland. When questioned about the benefit fraud in 2018, he reportedly dismissed the matter, stating, "It is what it is. I did not even get a fine." He also differentiated his life from his son's, saying, "Me and Adam are completely different. What I do is completely different from what Adam does."
Adam Collard, who appeared on seasons four and eight of the reality show Love Island and also participated in Celebrity SAS, became engaged to Laura Woods in September 2024. A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that William Collard faces a charge of assault by beating, with his trial scheduled for August 7 at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. The court has confirmed that Adam Collard is the alleged victim in the case.