ITV presenter makes chilling discovery after abusive husband's jail release


A weather presenter who rebuilt her life after years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband has made a chilling discovery following his release from prison.

Ruth Dodsworth, known to viewers as the weather presenter for ITV Wales, covered up the torment she endured behind closed doors for years. Her ex-husband, Jonathan Wignall, 57, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2021 for coercive control and stalking—offences that have been recognised since 2015.

Following his release from jail, Ruth was shocked to discover that Wignall had set up an online profile for modelling and acting roles. While she understands that her ex-husband is entitled to move on with his life, this unexpected news left her feeling unsettled.

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As reported in the Mirror, Wignall’s bio - which listed his hobbies as golf and flying helicopters - confirmed that he is available for work. He is represented by Choice Model Management, a company that works with broadcasters like the BBC and, unexpectedly, ITV—Dodsworth’s own employer.

Ruth and Jonathan married back in 2012 - and share two children together, Grace, 20, and Jack, 19.

She told The Daily Mail: "I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Are no background checks done? What about due diligence? A cursory Google of his name would have revealed that my ex-husband was a dangerous man just out of prison.

"Helicopters and golf? I’d love to be able to reinvent my life like that, too! Unfortunately, I cannot because I’m just trying to get through each day."

She added: "Yes, my ex-husband is free to move on with his life after leaving prison. It’s right that he should and he is doing nothing illegal. But reinventing himself as some sort of glamorous role model? Something sticks in the throat here. It sends a terrible message and reinforces what I’ve always said – this is a man with no remorse, who still doesn’t feel he has done anything wrong. For me, the sense of entitlement that he can just carry on is... galling, to say the least."

Despite having no previous experience in modelling or acting, Ruth's ex now presents himself as a playboy model.

She confessed: "He’d never done any modelling or acting before,’ she says, baffled. I realise people will say 'but he has served his time' and should be free to do whatever he wants, but for him to present himself to the world as a playboy model... I’m sorry, this is so unfair."

According to the publication, her ex-husband even tried to control her while she was asleep. He attempted to unlock her phone by lifting her hand and using her fingerprint to access her messages. At their home in Swansea, Wignall, a former nightclub owner, was physically abusive and would lash out when he had been drinking.

Ruth also says that her abusive ex had even robbed her of her own money.

She said: "He controlled all the finances. He took every penny I earned. If I wanted money for lunch, he’d give me £3 for a Tesco meal deal. I covered it up at work. I was embarrassed, ashamed."

In 2016, Jonathan broke several of Ruth’s ribs - an injury she initially claimed was from a fall while doing the dishes. The situation only came to light when their two children, who had often cowered on the bathroom floor during their father’s outbursts, called her one day. Her 14-year-old son, Jack, begged her not to come home, fearing for her life. “Dad will kill you,” he said. Ruth acknowledges that it was her son’s call that ultimately saved her life.

For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

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