MP Mike Amesbury admits street attack
Mike Amesbury, who represents Runcorn and Helsby, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates' Court.
MP Mike Amesbury admitted assault by beating after a video emerged of him punching a man to the ground in his Cheshire constituency.
Amesbury, who represents Runcorn and Helsby, pleaded guilty to assaulting Paul Fellows, 45, at Chester Magistrates' Court.
He was suspended from the Labour Party after footage of the brawl, which took place in Frodsham, Cheshire, at 02:45 GMT on October 26 last year, was released.
The video, which does not show the direction of the altercation, records Amesbury shouting: "You never threatened the MP again, did you?"
Alison Story, prosecuting, told the court that at around 2am, Mr. Fellows was in Frodsham town centre and was walking to a taxi rank.
He was alone and had been drinking, he said. Ms Story said: "Mr Amesbury arrived at the same taxi rank. He was also alone and had also been drinking."
The court heard Mr Fellows recognised Amesbury and approached him to discuss closing a bridge in the city.
She said surveillance video showed an exchange between them over a period of several minutes, but there was no aggression or raised voices.
The
incident was captured on security camera footage, which has been widely shared on social media.
She said: "At some point Mr Fellows started to leave but Mr Amesbury came back into contact."
Amesbury, 55, was then heard saying "what" several times before shouting, the court heard.
Ms Story said Mr Fellows put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the taxi queue, but, as he turned, Amesbury punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground. He followed her down the street after she fell and started hitting her again at least five times, he said.
Amesbury, who is now standing as an independent MP, won his seat in July's general election with a majority of 14,696 votes.
He had served in the Labour Party since 2017 and was a shadow minister between 2018 and 2024. He was previously a local councillor in Manchester.
District Judge Tanveer Ikram said the guidelines suggested a starting point for sentencing of "a high community order or a range up to a prison sentence". "I have already mentioned the fact that although there was only one punch to the face, the victim ended up on the ground and was attacked again on the ground." "That seems to me to be an additional aggravating factor," he said.
"I have left all options open at this point." »
"shocking"
Amesbury was released on bail to return for sentencing on February 24.
Asked about his comments after the hearing, the MP said he wanted to apologise to Mr. Compagnari.
He told reporters: "It is very unfortunate, the incident in October. "I am truly sorry for Mr Fellows and his family."
Amesbury's defence lawyer said the incident was "unfortunate and unfortunate".
He said the public was unaware of the extent of the security measures and threats MPs face on a daily basis.
He said a man had already been convicted of harassing Amesbury and that last November he had received a death threat against his office.
He also said the comments had been made that, rightly or wrongly, the MP had "taken it as a form of threat to himself".
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier called the video "shocking" and said Labour had "acted very quickly" to respond. After pleading guilty, a party spokesman said: "It is right that Mike Amesbury has taken responsibility for his unacceptable actions.
"He has been rightly suspended from the Labour Party following the announcement of the police investigation."
"We cannot comment further while legal proceedings are still ongoing."
Amesbury is expected to face a prison sentence - including a suspended sentence - over a recall petition to be filed in his constituency of Runcorn and Helsby.
This recall petition must be signed by more than 10% of voters in his constituency to trigger a by-election.
A recall petition would also be filed if the House of Commons decides to suspend him for 10 or more sitting days. If he resigned, it would also lead to by-elections.
[attachment deleted by admin]