The stalking case against the ex-wife of Northants council leader has been dropped

An alleged domestic violence victim accused of stalking a former council president 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 wives told the BBC that he had attacked them.

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

Nunn strongly denied the claims, saying “domestic violence was never acceptable”.

Nunn now sits on the council as an independent member.

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

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

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

Nunn said he deeply regretted the attack and that it was out of character, but the BBC revealed further allegations in April that he had spat on and violently assaulted four other women in 2013. He has also been accused of pinching a neighbor.

On September 15, eight male police officers arrived at Ms Botterill’s home to arrest her and seize devices, a course of action she described as “intimidating” and “heavy-handed”.

CCTV footage showed police questioning a family member and employees of a neighboring nursery about her whereabouts.

A further arrest attempt was made on October 6, but Mrs Botterill was not at home on both occasions.

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

“The matter was reviewed by me because of Mr Nunn’s public role and this is fully consistent with coercive practice,” he said.

“It became clear that your actions, while harmful, were not criminal in nature.”

Mrs Botterill said she was “scared” for her ex-husband and described his complaint as “bizarre and horrific”.

She told the BBC: “I was told (the attempted arrest) was in response to emails sent to officials before April and for attending two public meetings in March when domestic violence was discussed by the advice and where I behaved with dignity.

“As much as I have received an apology from the police, it does not alleviate the concerns it has caused as I have never been in trouble in my entire life.”

In April, police said they were conducting “preliminary investigations” into the domestic abuse claims against Nunn and that at least one of his alleged victims had been interviewed after he agreed with the BBC to pass on her details.

Nunn has not been arrested or questioned in connection with the recent allegations.

He resigned from the Conservatives in May but remains an independent councilor and attended his first council meeting since March on September 27.

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

Nunn was contacted for comment.