Former Tory official put into violence programme

Owen Thomas Danter, 31, who was convicted at an earlier hearing of assaulting his former partner, was sentenced to a 24-month community order.

Danter, of Beswick Heads, Beswick, and the complainant were in a relationship for around two years and lived together for a year until their relationship ended last September.

The court was told she was so frightened by the incident that she took refuge in fields until friends and a police officer went to collect her.

Danter, the branch manager of the Alliance & Leicester in Driffield, has resigned from the party.

A request for a restraining order was made but refused.

Prosecutor Andrew Stirling said: "The complainant is in fear of the defendant approaching her again and does not want anything to do with him."

But Adam Birkby, defending, said Danter had been on bail since September and had not breached any of the conditions or tried to

contact his ex-partner.

"This is an issue of one night of relatively limited violent conduct of pushing and restraining. There are no other allegations and nothing that amounts to harassment, " Mr Birkby said.

He said to impose a restraining order would restrict Danter from his social life because the former couple mix in similar circles.

Danter must also undertake the Community Domestic Violence Programme, pay compensation of 250 for pain and suffering and 930 in court costs.

Speaking after sentencing, Danter said he was looking at options for appeal.