Wife-beating Tory council leader accused of domestic abuse against four more women steps down after claiming to be the victim of a 'long-term campaign' of harassment

A council leader engulfed in allegations of domestic abuse announced he was stepping down tonight to 'deal with these issues'.

Jonathan Nunn said he 'continued to deny the allegations' but would step aside as leader of West Northamptonshire Council after the affair became a 'huge distraction'.

The announcement followed claims from four women that they had been subjected to violence or abuse by Nunn – days after his first wife told the Mail she suffered a catalogue of abuse.

Jonathan Nunn's second wife is amongst those now telling of their ordeals at his hands in alleged pattern of behaviour covering a 20-year period.

The 59-year-old was sentenced to 180 hours of community service in 2004 after he was seen punching and kicking Janice Nunn in the street.

Mrs Nunn, now 50, was also dragged by the hair and suffered bruising to her shoulder, arms, chest, back, buttocks and legs, while a neighbour to whom she fled for safety alleges Nunn grabbed her by the throat after barging in to the house.

The new allegations mean the Tory councillor - who fronted a campaign to prevent violence against women two years ago - is accused of domestic abuse against at least four partners since the early 1990s.

In a statement tonight Nunn – who was already facing calls to resign – claimed to have been the victim of a 'long-term campaign' of harassment.

He said: 'I continue to deny the allegations being made against me, and I am pursuing discussions with the police relating to the relentless harassment I have experienced.'

He added that the 'recent bombardment of both officers and members with emails as part of this sustained campaign has been overwhelming for everyone affected'.

Nunn continued: 'It has been a huge distraction not only to me, but also to all the good work of the Council.

'With all this having a massive impact on my mental health and wellbeing, I have decided to step down as Council Leader while I deal with these issues.

'I have never been anything but open and honest about my previous a conviction for assault and a community order 20 years ago, speaking about this publicly and this being a matter of public record for many years, since before I was elected as a borough and now a unitary councillor by members of the public and became council leader.

'This harassment campaign led by a particular individual, whose previous behaviour has been recognised by a court, is fuelled by a number of motivations which may not be clear to the public, but are abundantly clear to me. 

'They follow a swathe of demands for taxpayers' money despite there being no evidence that it's due. I hope in time that a truer, fuller picture of this whole situation will be made clear.'

He said he was 'extremely proud' of his achievements as council leader since the authority was formed three years ago.

'Following my decision to step down as Leader, the Council will be confirming the arrangements that will now be put in place.'

Mrs Nunn told the BBC she suffered repeatedly during their two-year marriage and described her husband as 'the angriest person' she had ever met.

She said on one occasion he 'changed in a heartbeat from being chatty to throwing me over'.

'I went to A&E and was diagnosed with a fractured rib,' she said.

Mrs Nunn said on the night of the assault, in November 2003, Nunn 'punched and slapped' her for speaking to other men so she ran from their house on a smart estate in Northampton.

'Halfway across the street, in full view of the neighbours, he launched himself, dragged me to the floor and began kicking me everywhere,' she said. 

Mrs Nunn said she managed to take refuge in the house of a neighbour, Paula Johnson, 60, who has also spoken to the BBC. 

She said: 'I remember standing in front of the sofa where Jan was and he was still trying to go for her and accusing her of all sorts.

'Then he put his hands around my throat, and was squeezing really tightly.'

Ms Johnson said the incident left her terrified, but added: 'When the police arrived he suddenly changed and said, 'Good evening, I'm Jonathan Nunn'.'

The former salesman who now lives on a houseboat, has said his conviction was an isolated incident and came after a drinking spree. 

Nunn resigned as a county councillor following the attack, but re-entered local politics in 2011. 

In 2005, Nunn entered what allegedly became another abusive relationship. 

Carolyn Marks gave birth to his twins the following year, but said she was left feeling anxious and 'that I had to be the wall between him and my children'. 

She said Nunn would 'swear, hurl abuse and belittle' her, and punch doors or kick things. 

In 2008, West Midlands Police recorded a domestic violence incident against Nunn after Ms Marks reported him. 

In 2012, a family court ordered that he should attend a domestic violence perpetrator programme, the BBC claimed. 

The same year, Nunn's latest, two-year, relationship ended after his partner said she concluded he represented a danger to her children. 

The woman, identified only as Sylvia in the BBC investigation, said Nunn had initially been 'terribly gracious, then suddenly one day he turned'. 

'I felt threatened', she said. 'There was a lot of swearing, spitting, waving arms, pacing and kicking things.' 

The 'final straw' came when Nunn punched a wall in front of her children, she said.

The new allegations come after Nunn's first wife Maria Botterill, 57, told the Mail at the weekend she suffered years of abuse.

The nursery owner, from Northampton, described him as 'monstrous' and claimed he threatened her 'with knives'. 

She told the BBC the 'Jekyll and Hyde character' also 'whacked' her in their car, spat at her and held her against the floor. 

Nunn said he 'strenuously denied' the allegations, but had 'always been open and honest' about his conviction for assault, adding: 'Domestic abuse is never acceptable and I profoundly regret this.' 

He said he had 'worked hard to make up for the past by trying to contribute something positive' in his role as a councillor. 

A council meeting was scheduled for next month in order for Independent councillor Ian McCord to propose a motion of no-confidence in Nunn, who sits on Northamptonshire Joint Children's Trust Committee.

Mr McCord, who represents Deanshanger, said Nunn was 'bringing the council into disrepute'. 

Mr McCord added: 'Even if he is innocent, he should step aside in order to clear his name, Nunn is turning the authority into a clown show.'

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats issued statements calling for Nunn to resign after allegations by Ms Botterill were emailed to members of WNC.

Conservative councillor Cheryl Hawes, who represents Kingsthorpe South, publicly withdrew her support for him. 

Last month, the live feed to a council meeting was cut when independent member Paul Clark tried to bring up Ms Botterill's claims.

The chief executive officer of WNC, Anna Earnshaw, later emailed Mr Clark to say 'the claims about domestic violence were a personal matter and not for the council to investigate'.

Nunn told the Mail last week Mrs Botterill's allegations were unfounded and part of a 'sustained campaign' against him, as well as that he had made a complaint to police about harassment.

Today he said he 'disputes the detail' of the latest allegations against him, adding: 'I don't think I can say anything else'.

A spokesperson for WNC said it considered the BBC's findings to be 'serious allegations, but ones strenuously denied by the leader'.

'The council is not in a position to validate them as that is a matter for the police,' they added.