Peter Hook claims Caroline Aherne physically abused him

New Order bassist Peter Hook has opened up about his turbulent marriage to comedian Caroline Aherne, claiming in a new autobiography that she physically abused him.

The 60-year-old musician says the years of abuse meant that he “couldn’t in all good conscience” join in with the tributes to Caroline when she lost her battle with cancer last July at the age of 52.

“Yes I loved her, yes she could be very funny, and there were times I felt privileged to have a private audience with such a great comic talent,” Hook writes in Substance.

“But she was also a very troubled person and nowhere did that manifest itself more than in our relationship.”

Describing the beginning of the violence, the bass player writes: “She attacked me, using her nails to scratch at my neck, tearing off my necklace and ripping my top. It was proper shocking stuff.

“And although she was really contrite the next morning it marked the beginning of some serious screaming-banshee behaviour – putting cigarettes out on my arm, attacking me with bottles, knives, chairs and other assorted furniture.

“It would be set off by the slightest thing – talking or looking at another woman was a favourite.”

The couple married in Las Vegas in 1994 after meeting at Manchester’s legendary Hacienda nightclub. They split up three years later following the ‘worst argument ever’, with Aherne leaving a note saying: “’I’m leaving, I’m going to kill you if I don’t.”

“I was an abused husband and it’s embarrassing, and you feel ashamed, and you can’t tell anyone. I needed help,” he continued.

Caroline’s brother Patrick took to social media this morning to hit back at the claims, saying: “I am so disgusted by the claims made by Peter Hook in most of the tabloids today. Hook was married to my sister over 20 years ago and they were divorced because the marriage did not work well.

“What sort of man would make these claims after the death of Caroline? Is this because she is not here to defend herself?

“’Why did it take Hook 20 years to make these claims? I know the general public will now realise what type of individual Hook is and I sincerely hope that they do not waste their money on his book.

“R.I.P. Caroline – the world knows you were an amazing woman. I do not think the world will be saying the same about that excuse of a man called Peter Hook.”