Bradford's longest-serving councillor today spoke of his shame after being convicted of beating his wife.

Councillor Tim Mahon, who has held a series of senior posts on Bradford Council, said he could not condone his actions.

He said it was the culmination of a "nightmare" which had torn his family apart, and said he would have to consider his position on the council.

He was speaking after Bradford Magistrates' Court heard that he had punched his wife Mary in a "frenzied" row. Mahon, 49, who hit her several times and threatened to "re-arrange" her face, pleaded guilty to assault. Sentence was adjourned for three weeks for reports.

The court heard that the Mahon family had been plagued by anonymous telephone calls which alleged "impropriety" by the councillor.

After the case, Mahon told the T&A his life was "in ruins" and added: "These calls have been going on for months. It has been during the day, the middle of the night - all the time.

"The allegation was about me and it has been terrible. Relatives, friends, and my staff have all been plagued by these telephone calls. It has been a nightmare and it has absolutely torn us apart."

Mahon, who has been married to his wife Mary for 28 years, said he hoped they could be reunited. He said: "This is not something I feel proud about. I can't possibly condone what I have done."

Prosecutor Barbara Petchey told the court that as a result of the attack on May 23, his wife suffered marks around her neck, bruising to her arms and pain in her face.

Mrs Petchey said the couple had been having difficulties in their relationship and an argument began.

Mahon became upset and told her: "You'd better shut your face or I will rearrange it."

He grabbed hold of his wife by the throat and punched her in the face. They ended up on the floor and she grabbed hold of his shirt to push him away. She then tried to hit him in the face and pushed him out of the house in Scott Street, Odsal.

Solicitor Tim Harrison, mitigating, said Mahon's family had recently become the victims of anonymous telephone calls suggesting "impropriety" by him.

"Despite his protestations, there was no substance to this whatsoever. The matter flared up and provoked a reaction." The calls had got on the entire family's nerves and caused him to act "completely out of character."

Mr Harrison said: "What was said in the anonymous telephone calls undermined the relationship. Who by or for what reason these calls were made is a mystery to all parties."

He added: "He is not a violent man. He accepts he lost control and that he hit his wife. He is terribly distraught."

Mahon, whose address was given as Granville Street, Clayton, Bradford, was granted bail to appear in court again in three weeks.

Mahon has served on the Council for more than 25 years. He is a former chairman of the Council's Labour Group. He was chairman of the Hackney Carriage appeals sub-committee and has frequently spoken out strongly regarding both private hire and hackney drivers.

Last year he announced that he had received a death threat during one trouble-torn period.

He is a former Housing Committee chairman and was suspended from the Labour Group in 1988 for voting with the Tories on a gypsy issue. He returned to the Whip the following year.

He serves as a Councillor for the Tong Ward, one of Labour's safest seats.

A Bradford Council spokesman said today it would be inappropriate to make any comment during the legal process.

* If Councillors are convicted of offences and are sentenced to three months or more in prison they are automatically disqualified from being Councillors.

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