THE leader of Reform UK in Wales, Dan Thomas, has stepped down from the role after it was revealed that he was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Gwent Police confirmed yesterday: “On Sunday 13 September, a 45-year-old man, from the Aberbargoed area, was arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour.

“He has been bailed pending further inquiries.”

The shock move came on the same day a Reform Senedd Shadow Cabinet spokesperson resigned from the party to join Plaid Cymru, claiming they were not interested in Wales.

Reform initially announced that Thomas would not be attending Tuesday’s first plenary session of the Senedd as Shadow Leader for “personal reasons”.

A statement later revealed he was quitting the leadership following his arrest.

The former Conservative leader of Barnet Council, who was appointed Welsh party leader by Nigel Farage in February before leading them to become the second biggest party in May’s election, said: “Over the weekend, I was reported to the police and was released without charge.

“I stress that I have done nothing wrong, but I do not want the coming headlines to be a distraction from the fantastic work our Senedd team is doing in holding this government to account.”

He added: “It has been the honour of my life to have been the leader of Reform Wales and see this party go from zero to 34 elected members and become the largest opposition group in Welsh history.

"With deep regret, I am now standing down from this position due to personal reasons.”

He added: "I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader."

Thomas was elected to the Senedd in May, when his party went from two members, including fellow Tory defector Laura Anne Jones, who lives in Monmouth, to 34.

Reform came second behind Plaid Cymru in the vote, with Thomas becoming leader of the opposition in the Senedd.

Just as he was announcing his resignation, another bombshell dropped when Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg Reform MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd announced she was defecting to Plaid Cymru.

"The party centrally has no interest in Wales. Their Senedd group is a staging post in the effort to get Nigel Farage into Downing Street, and that was glaringly obvious at its conference this week,” she said.

“They (Reform UK)… are not serious about governing Wales. They are far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions.”

Plaid Cymru Senedd group chair Marc Jones, said: "Reform UK is descending into chaos.. Sarah Cooper-Lesadd's decision to leave and join Plaid Cymru says it all - Reform is interested in division and headlines, not governing Wales."

Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates said: "This is quite incredible news and many questions will need to be answered.

"Dan Thomas was a personal pick by Nigel Farage and this will surely demonstrate the appalling judgement of the Reform UK leader."

Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Mims Davie said: "Reform are hitting the news for all the wrong reasons - massive crypto donations, on top of the jailing of Natahn Gill for pro-Russian bribes.

"All this raises serious and deep questions about Reform's judgement and leadership at every level."

And Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds, said: "The wheels are rapidly coming off Reform in Wales and the entire country."

Reform MS Llyr Powell told the Senedd Sources podcast there would be a "formal process in which the group decides who is now going to lead it".