TV weather presenter who was abused & tormented by ex-husband makes chilling discovery as he is released from prison
A TV weather presenter who was abused and tormented by her ex-husband has made a chilling discovery following his release from prison.
Ruth Dodsworth, ITV weather presenter, bravely rebuilt her life after years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Jonathan Wignall.
But the presenter was left shocked after learning that her former partner had set up an online profile for modelling and acting roles.
On Wignall’s bio, he listed several hobbies including golf and flying helicopters and added that he is available for work.
Despite having no experience in modelling or acting the former prisoner now presents himself as a playboy model.
The 57-year-old is represented by Choice Model Management, a company that works with broadcasters like ITV, who Ruth is employed by.
The weather presenter told MailOnline: “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.”
The 49-year-old was in disbelief when she saw the list of hobbies her ex-husband included in his bio, wishing she could similarly reinvent her life.
“Unfortunately, I cannot because I’m just trying to get through each day,” she added.
“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.”
Ruth claims it isn’t fair that Wignall can simply “carry on” while she continues to endure the impact of his actions.
On the day she called the police, the ITV weather presenter recalled how her children begged her not to come home, fearing her abusive ex-husband would kill her.
She said: “My children basically said, ‘Mum, don’t come home because he will kill you’.
“He’d been on a drink-fuelled rampage for 24 hours.
“I was used to that. But at this point I told him I wanted a divorce.
“He couldn’t tighten his grip any more.
“This is a man who basically said to me, ‘If I can’t have you, no one else can’.
“If I hadn’t dialled 999 I wouldn’t be alive.”
Ruth spoke about her ordeal to highlight economic abuse.
She has no savings as the nightclub owner Wignall managed their finances.
He was jailed for three years in 2021 for stalking and coercive control but served only 18 months.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.