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MP Mike Amesbury pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in a late-night street incident caused by an argument over the closing of the bridge.
The Runcorn and Helsby MP admitted assaulting 45-year-old Paul Fellows on High Street in Frodsham, Cheshire, when he appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning. The incident happened on October 26 at 2:48 am.
Outside court he apologized to the man he admitted assaulting: “I am truly sorry for Mr Fellows and his family.”
Amesbury, who was suspended by the Labor Party when footage emerged of the incident, will not have his party whip returned, The Independent he understands.
The court heard how the incident began after Mr Fellows approached Amesbury at a taxi rank to protest the closure of a bridge in the town. CCTV then showed the two getting engaged over a period of several minutes without any aggression or raised voices, said prosecutor Alison Storey.
But she added: “At one point Mr Fellowes started to leave but Mr Amesbury re-engaged him.”
The MP was then heard to say the word “what” several times before shouting it, the court heard.
The prosecutor then said Mr Fellows put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the taxi queue, but when he turned back, Amesbury punched him in the head and knocked him to the ground.
He then followed him onto the road after he fell and started hitting him again at least five times, she added.
The two men were alone during their encounter and had been drinking, Ms Storey told the court.
Defending Amesbury, Richard Derby said: “Rightly or wrongly, Mr Amesbury interpreted what was said to be no longer conversation but something he thought there was another motive.”
He went on to comment on the “shame” the deputy faced: “the shame he suffered, the removal of the whip from him, a person who dedicated his life to the public”.
Mr Derby added: “Whatever sanctions this court imposes on him will not have the same effect as what has already happened to him.”
District Judge Tanveer Ikram adjourned the case until February 26 and said he was “leaving all options open at this stage”.
He admitted that the case was “within the category of high culpability” and said he accepted that the injury was not serious.
“The sentencing guidelines suggest a starting point of a high level of community order or a range of imprisonment,” the judge said.
He went on to describe one punch to the face, in which the victim ended up on the floor and was further assaulted, as an “additional aggravating factor”.
The MP told reporters outside that the incident was “deeply regrettable”, but said he respected the court process and would not comment further.
A The Labor Party a spokesman said: “It is correct that Mike Amesbury has taken responsibility for his unacceptable actions.
“He has rightly been suspended by the Labor Party following the announcement of a police investigation. We cannot comment further while the court proceedings are still ongoing.”
Amesbury was suspended from the Labor Party in late October after footage emerged showing him punching a man. He now sits in Parliament as an independent.
This is a breaking story – more to come