Mike Amesbury, the suspended Labour MP for Runcorn and Helsby, has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a man in the street. The incident occurred in the early hours of 26 October on Main Street in Frodsham, Cheshire, where Amesbury punched 45-year-old Paul Fellows multiple times, leaving him injured.
Amesbury, 55, who has served as an MP since 2017, admitted to assault by beating in January. In addition to his jail term, he has been ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Mr Fellows.
The court heard that Amesbury had been drinking in his constituency town before arriving at a taxi rank, where he was approached by Mr Fellows. The victim had wanted to discuss the closure of the Sutton Weaver swing bridge. However, the conversation turned violent when Amesbury punched Mr Fellows in the head with enough force to knock him to the ground. Witnesses reported that Amesbury then struck the victim a further five times while he was on the floor, before members of the public intervened.
As he was being restrained, Amesbury reportedly told Mr Fellows, “You won’t threaten your MP again, will you?” The attack left the victim with a lump on his head and a graze on his elbow.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram, who presided over the case, described the assault as “persistent” and stated that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary as both a punishment and a deterrent. The judge also noted that Amesbury would serve 40% of his sentence in custody.
Following the sentencing, Amesbury’s lawyer requested a bail application while they appeal the decision. However, Judge Ikram swiftly denied the application, stating, “Application refused.”
Amesbury was suspended from the Labour Party just two days after the incident, when CCTV footage of the assault was widely circulated. Since then, he has been sitting in Parliament as an independent MP.
Outside the court, Amesbury described the incident as “highly regrettable” and issued an apology to Mr Fellows and his family.
Alison Storey, a senior specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, condemned the attack, stating: “This was a persistent assault by Mike Amesbury which continued while the victim was on the floor, offering no aggression. The victim was alone and not part of a group, and CCTV footage showed that he was not being threatening or aggressive towards Mike Amesbury. After the initial punch which knocked the victim to the ground, Mike Amesbury struck the victim at least a further five times while he was on the floor.”
The case has drawn significant attention, not only due to Amesbury’s position as an MP but also because of the severity of the assault. The Crown Prosecution Service emphasised its commitment to holding individuals accountable for violent behaviour, regardless of their status or position.
As Amesbury begins his sentence, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent actions and the importance of accountability, particularly for those in positions of public trust.
