Member of Parliament Mike Amesbury pleaded guilty to assault by beating today
Mike Amesbury leaving Chester Magistrates Court today (Image: Getty Images)
A Member of Parliament punched one of his constituents to the floor before shouting ‘you won’t threaten your MP again will you f****** soft lad’, a court heard.
Runcorn and Helsby MP Mike Amesbury today, January 16, pleaded guilty to the assault by beating of his constituent Paul Fellows during an altercation in Frodsham, Cheshire in the early hours of October 26. Amesbury, who is currently suspended by the Labour Party, will face sentencing next month.
During the hearing, the court heard about what happened after Amesbury came into contact with Mr Fellows at a taxi rank in Frodsham after both men had been drinking in the town. Prosecutor Alison Storey told the court that Mr Fellows, having recognised his local MP, approached him to talk about an ongoing bridge closure in the town.
The lawyer said Amesbury told Mr Fellows it was ‘nothing to do with him’ before stepping forward and punching him to the floor. She said CCT footage, which was later played in court, showed the Runcorn MP shouting ‘what’ several times at Mr Fellows before he punched him ‘with enough force to knock him to the ground.’ She added that Amesbury could then be seen punching Mr Fellows five more times while he was on the floor.
Mike Amesbury MP(Image: Getty Images)
Once on the floor, Ms Storey said the MP was held back by others and could be heard shouting ‘You won’t threaten your MP again will you, you f***ing soft lad.”
The court heard that Mr Fellows suffered a lump on his head and headaches after the incident and sought medical attention. Defending Amesbury, Richard Derby said this was a ‘momentary’ incident and that the MP ‘rightly or wrongly’ interpreted what Mr Fellows was saying as threatening at the time. He said his client described the incident is ‘regrettable and unfortunate’.
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.”