Cheshire MP Mike Amesbury handed jail sentence for punching man in street
Footage showed the MP punching a man to the ground before striking him again at least five times
MP Mike Amesbury (left) outside Chester Magistrates' Court
Cheshire MP Mike Amesbury has been jailed for 10 weeks for punching a man following a row in the street. The Runcorn and Helsby MP, who has been sitting as an Independent since he was suspended by the Labour Party following his arrest in October last year, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
He pleaded guilty at a hearing in January to assaulting 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Main Street in Frodsham, in the early hours of October 26.
The court heard Amesbury, 55, had been drinking before he arrived at a taxi rank, where Mr Fellows approached him to remonstrate about a bridge closure in the town.
Footage showed Amesbury punching Mr Fellows to the head, knocking him to the ground, then following him on to the road and starting to punch him again, at least five times.
He was then heard saying “You won’t threaten your MP again will you?”
Amesbury was suspended from the Labour Party after footage emerged which showed him punching Mr Fellows, and he subsequently resigned his membership.
After he pleaded guilty to the assault earlier this year, the politician was warned all sentencing options would be considered, ranging from a community order to a prison sentence.