A former Conservative Party press adviser and regional newspaper columnist who rugby-tackled his former partner in a beer garden has been sentenced.

David Kuczora has been slapped with a community order after previously admitting battery against the man, the Birmingham Mail has reported.

Kuczora, pictured, had been in a relationship since 2018 but the victim had taken out a domestic violence prevention order against him, Birmingham Crown Court heard, although the pair have continued to socialise since.

The 38-year-old formerly worked for the Tories as a regional political press adviser for the West Midlands and also served as a columnist for the Mail and the Birmingham Post.

Mark Phillips, prosecuting, told the court the relationship had been “toxic”, although “the one thing they appeared to have in common was excessive drinking”.

Both parties had ended up at The Duke Inn, in Sutton Coldfield, on 27 March last year, at which point there was an argument over a mobile phone.

Mr Phillips said: “It seems from the video that the defendant tries to snatch the phone from the complainant and it ends up in a struggle.

“The complainant manages to run away and the defendant rugby-tackled him, knocking him to the ground.”

Judge John Butterfield KC said Kuczora had complied with the letter of the order which prevented him from going to the victim’s home but not the spirit of it, continuing to socialise with him.

Passing sentence, the judge said: “You were plainly the aggressor. You did not have the good sense to keep your distance. It was persistent and the attack featured a large number of attempted blows.”

The judge further told Kuczora, who had previous convictions for alcohol-related matters, he was someone with an “enormous amount of potential” but was “tainted” by alcoholism.

Simon Phillips, defending, said many “notable” individuals had written references for him.

Mr Phillips added: “David Kuczora is embarrassed to find himself before the courts again. He is clearly an intelligent man who has held responsible and professional positions but his life has been blighted by alcoholism.

“The fact he was in a turbulent relationship with the complainant does not excuse what took place. It is his drinking, every time, that gets him into trouble.”

Kuczora, of Sutton Coldfield, was sentenced to an 18-month community order and ordered to pay £100 costs.