Paul High appeared at Chichester Crown Court on Monday, May 12 when he was due to try to get the conviction brought against him by his ex-fiancée, Zsuzsanna Krammarics, overturned.

But as the case started, his defence barrister, Delaney Igbo, told Judge Anthony Thorpe the 51-year-old was abandoning the appeal.

High, a Conservative who at this month's elections was returned to his seat in Heene ward for another four years, did not take to the dock for the short proceedings.

He sat behind his barrister throughout and spoke only to confirm his name.

Fellow Tory councillors Carol Molineaux and Roger Oakley were also in court to support him.

For the appeal, Miss Krammarics was once again flown to the UK by the Crown Prosecution Service, this time from Budapest in her native Hungary.

Prosecutor Farzana Tai described the costs involved in doing this as "extensive", but Judge Thorpe did not award any costs against High.

High was first elected in 2003 after a by-election and was immediately given a role on the licensing committee.

In 2004, he took up the role of cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, where he managed an annual budget of £7million.

He resigned from this position in September in the wake of his court case.

Judge Thorpe said: "People who commit domestic violence usually go to prison.

"It's a risk he ran and I think he's very wise to abandon the appeal."

High left court with his girlfriend Anetta Kendiova, and their new baby, and his council colleagues.

Zsuzsanna Krammarics said she was "delighted" the case was over so she could move on with her life.

She said she risked her job working on a cruise ship to fly over for the appeal hearing.


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