Stalking case against former leader's ex-wife dropped

Jonathan Nunn resigned over the domestic abuse allegations earlier this year

An alleged victim of domestic violence, who was accused of stalking a former council leader, is no longer being treated as a suspect, police say.

Jonathan Nunn, 59, was the Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council but resigned after five women told the BBC he had assaulted them.

He had already reported one of his alleged victims - his ex-wife Maria Botterill - to police in February and told a council meeting he was the subject of a "sustained harassment campaign".

Nunn strenuously denied the claims and said "domestic abuse was never acceptable".

Nunn now sits as an independent member on the council.

Maria Botterill says she was kicked on the floor by Jonathan Nunn while pregnant with his child

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said no further action would be taken following a "thorough investigation" of Nunn’s complaint of stalking and harassment.

Mrs Botterill claimed she was kicked, punched and threatened with a knife during her relationship with Nunn during the 1990s.

He was subsequently convicted of assaulting his second wife Janice Nunn in 2004, after leaving her with bruising to her shoulder, arms, chest, back, buttocks and legs.

Nunn said he profoundly regretted the attack and that it was not his typical character, however the BBC revealed further allegations in April that he spat at and violently abused four other women as recently as 2013. He has also been accused of throttling a neighbour.

'Not criminal'

On 15 September, eight male police officers arrived at Mrs Botterill's house to arrest her and seize devices, a course of action which she described as "intimidating" and "heavy-handed".

CCTV footage showed police questioning a family member and employees at an adjacent nursery business about her whereabouts.

A subsequent arrest attempt was made on 6 October, however Mrs Botterill was not at home on either occasion.

Two days later, a senior detective sent her an email, explaining that having reviewed the case, she was no longer a suspect.

"The case was reviewed by me due to Mr Nunn's public role and this is entirely consistent with force practice," he said.

"It became clear that your actions, although damaging, were not criminal in nature."

Mrs Botterill said she was "frightened" of her ex-husband and described his complaint as "bizarre and horrifying".

She told the BBC: "I am told [the attempted arrest] was a response to emails sent before April to public servants and for attending two public meetings in March when domestic violence was being discussed by the council and where I conducted myself with dignity.

"As much as I have received a police apology, it doesn’t take away from the worry it has caused as I have never been in trouble my entire life."

Eight male officers attempted to arrest Maria Botterill and search her home in Northampton in September

In April, police said they were making "preliminary inquiries" into the domestic abuse claims against Nunn and at least one of his alleged victims had been interviewed after agreeing with the BBC to pass on her details.

Nunn has not been arrested or questioned in relation to the recent allegations.

He resigned the Conservative whip in May but still sits as an independent councillor and attended his first council meeting - since March - on 27 September.

It is understood that if he had not turned up, he could have been removed from the council under the six-month rule.

Nunn was approached for comment.