Runcorn and Helsby MP Mike Amesbury has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for attacking a man outside a Chinese takeaway in Frodsham in October.
Amesbury pleaded guilty at a hearing at Chester Magistrates Court on 16th January, and was taken immediately to prison following the sentencing hearing today (24th February).
The court was again shown CCTV footage of the attack, and heard the 55-year-old politician attacked Paul Fellows, 45, shortly after 2am on 26th October.
The pair were both drunk, the court was told, and after a period of several minutes discussing the closure of a swing bridge and other local matters, Amesbury punched Mr Fellows who fell to the ground as a result.
The attack continued, with Amesbury punching him another five times while he lay on the ground, before bystanders pulled the MP off him.
Amesbury could then be heard to say “you won’t threaten the MP again,” a number of times.
Mr Fellows suffered minor injuries – including a lump to his head and a grazed elbow.
Amesbury initially told police during an interview that he was acting in self-defence, but subsequently admitted that this was not the case.
He was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £200 in compensation to his victim as well as £85 in costs and a £154 surcharge.
Amesbury was suspended from the Labour Party after details of the incident emerged, and had been sitting as an independent MP.
As a result of his prison sentence, he may now face a recall petition – which would result in a by-election if at least 10% of eligible voters in his constituency sign it.
If that happened, Amesbury would be eligible to stand in the by-election if he chose to do so.
The court heard he had no previous convictions and had dedicated half of his life to public service.
He has been a Labour MP in Cheshire since 2017 and held a number of shadow ministerial roles between July 2018 and May 2024.
At the general election in July he won his constituency with a majority of 14,696 and a 52.9% vote share.
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