The MP was suspended by the Labour Party after footage emerged of the incident
Mike Amesbury at Chester Magistrates Court today(Image: Ioannis Alexopoulos/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury apologised to his victim after he pleaded guilty to common assault by beating. The MP for Runcorn and Helsby pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates’ Court today (January 16), having been charged with common assault by beating Paul Fellows during an altercation in the early hours of October 26 in Frodsham, Cheshire.
Amesbury was suspended by the Labour Party last year after footage emerged which appeared to show him punching a man and he now sits in parliament as an independent. The court today heard from prosecutor Alison Storey, who described the incident that took place on October 26 in Frodsham.
Ms Storey said Paul Fellows was at a taxi rank in the town in the early hours of the morning and had been drinking. He was alone and Amesbury was at the same taxi rank and had also been drinking.
Ms Storey said that Mr Fellows recognised the MP and approached him to talk about a bridge closure in the town. He said Amesbury told him it was “nothing to do with him” before taking a step forward and punching him to the floor.
She added that CCTV footage shows there was engagement between the two men for several minutes, before Amesbury can be heard shouting ‘what’ at Mr Fellows. She said the footage showed Mr Fellows turning his head towards a taxi before Amesbury punched him with enough force to knock him to the ground.
He can then be seen to punch him five times on the floor, she said. Once on the floor, Ms Storey said the MP Mike Amesbury was held back by others and can be heard shouting “You won’t threaten your MP again will you, you f***ing soft lad.”
Defending Amesbury, Richard Derby says this was a “momentary” incident and that the MP “rightly or wrongly” interpreted what Mr Fellows was saying as threatening at the time. He says the incident is “regrettable and unfortunate”.
Runcorn and Helsby MP Mike Amesbury arriving at Chester Magistrates Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Mr Derby added that the public are not aware of the threats directed to Members of Parliament every day. He said every day Amesbury gets a message from the Speaker of the House of Parliament about what threats are being made against him and how he should conduct himself.
He said his constituency office is covered with cameras and has a panic alarm. Mr Derby says: “This is how he has to live his life.” Mr Derby told the court that Amesbury was the victim of an attempted assault in 2019 and that a man was arrested and charged in 2023 with stalking Amesbury, he was convicted in 2024.
Mr Derby said there are ongoing investigations into death threats made against the MP. He added: “As a consequence of that he had to meet with the security services again, he has been given panic alarms that go straight to the security services. Everywhere he goes, they want to know.”
The case has been adjourned until Monday, February 24 at 10am so that a pre-sentence report can be prepared. Amesbury has been granted unconditional bail.
Speaking to reporters on his way out of court, Amesbury said the incident was “highly regrettable”, adding: “And of course I am sincerely sorry to Mr Fellows and his family.”