A strictly Orthodox man standing as Ukip’s candidate in the Manchester mayoral election has been accused of conducting an affair with a woman he met on a bondage sex website.

Shneur Odze, who had declined to shake hands with a female political opponent on “religious grounds” earlier in the election campaign, allegedly posed as a Catholic priest on the site, which is described as a social network for the “fetish and kinky community”.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Odze described himself on his profile as having been into bondage and sadomasochism “for a number of years” during which he said he had “tried a great deal and enjoyed even more”.

The Mail reported that Mr Odze had met the woman for sex. She discovered his real identity when she put his mobile number into Google and found his Ukip Facebook page.

Mr Odze is married with four children. He has not responded to requests for comment. His local Ukip branch chairman resigned after the allegations were made, saying he could not support Mr Odze’s actions. A Ukip spokesman said: “This is a personal matter for Mr Odze. He has broken no law.”