MP Mike Amesbury is jailed for 10 weeks after admitting punching a man in his Cheshire constituency last year
The former Labour MP was caught on camera assaulting 45-year-old Paul Fellows and shouting: "You won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?"
Amesbury, 55, stood in silence as he was sentenced, our reporters write from court
His sentence triggers a recall petition - if 10% of his constituents sign it, a by-election will be forced
Sentencing magistrate says Amesbury's "unprovoked drunken behaviour" was too serious to be dealt with by unpaid work
Watch: CCTV captures moment Mike Amesbury MP punches man
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ikram said he had considered how Amesbury was "unlikely to re-offend".
But he said: "You were only stopped from going further by members of the public."
The magistrate said he accepted "this is a one of incident in an otherwise unblemished career".
"You have spent your life in public service and served in high office", he said.
But the magistrate said he was of "the view that unprovoked drunken behaviour is too serious to be dealt with unpaid work."
The magistrate said the immediate custodial sentence was "necessary both as a punishment and a deterrent".
The MP was also ordered to pay the victim's costs and was then escorted from the dock by prison officers.
The former Labour now independent MP is sentenced to 10 weeks in prison.
"I note that you Mr Amesbury, continued to punch Mr Fellows when he was on the ground and continued to shout at Mr Fellows. I consider this more culpable," the magistrate said.
He said: "You continued to attack when he was on the ground and it may have continued further had a bystander not intervened.
"You continued to rant, your position ought to be as a role model to others."
The magistrate has gone over the facts of the case before the court.
He said a pre-sentence report showed Amesbury's actions were the result of a "anger and loss of emotional control".
He said: "I have to say that I have seen a single punch to the head cause fatal injuries, but note the limited injuries in this case."
All stand as Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram returns to the courtroom to deliver Mike Amesbury's sentence.
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
We are told the magistrate is still not quite ready to deliver the sentence, and will be a few more minutes
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
Amesbury looks at his watch. He has been sitting quietly all this time, alone, in the large glass-fronted dock. He is mainly looking slightly down, occasionally he looks up or around.
The press seats at the back of Court 1 are packed with journalists, talking amongst themselves in whispers.
He must be fully aware of us all sitting here - just in his peripheral vision.
In a few minutes he will learn his fate.
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates Court
It’s become increasingly hushed in court - the deputy chief magistrate is due to return at any moment.
Hannah Miller
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
Before the magistrate retired to consider the sentence, defence lawyer Mr Derby argued that Amesbury’s "exemplary" character, the conversation in the street, and the fact that he lives with a constant threat to his security should all be considered as mitigating factors.
“The sentence he is carrying emotionally, professionally and mentally will stay with him forever,” he added.
However, magistrate Tan Ikram points out that many people in public life live with such threats.
“Are you suggesting I should deal with your client differently?” he asks.
Mr Derby said this was "not an excuse" but asked for the circumstances to be considered in the round.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram said a pre-sentencing report shows the MP is at low risk of re-offending, but if he does re-offend he poses a medium risk to the public.
That means the starting point for the MP's sentence is a prison sentence, he said.
The prosecution said Amesbury did not admit his guilty at the time, while Amesbury's defence lawyer Richard Derby has asked the magistrate to consider that the MP acted "hugely out of character".
The magistrate has now retired to consider his sentence.
In Amesbury's defence, his lawyer tell the court he has dedicated a third of his life to public service, having served for eight years as an MP.
“I’ve never represented a person of such exemplary character as I have today, who has provided so much of his life to public service and the service of others," he said.
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram said this assault is in a higher-culpability category that gives a range of up to 16 weeks in prison.
The MP's defence lawyer is on his feet and said he accepts this, adding the assault was "extremely regrettable".
He said the incident was recorded on CCTV but the preceding conversation was not recorded. The defence lawyer said this it not an excuse, but rightly or wrongly there was something the MP took offence too.
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
Earlier, the prosecutor told the court a medical report into Mr Fellows' injuries showed he suffered a head injury and had reported a headache.
He was seen at an urgent care centre, and also had a soft tissue injury to the left elbow.
Ms Storey explains that because of the angle of the video of the assault, it’s not clear whether the injuries were caused by the punches themselves, or by Mr Fellows hitting the floor
The prosecutor told the court that in a police interview, Mr Amesbury said he had acted in self defence.
She said: “It is clear there was no aggression from Mr Fellows. He was alone. He didn’t retaliate, even after he was punched to the floor."
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Crown Court
The prosecutor continues to tell the court Amesbury shouted at Mr Fellows several times, saying: "Don’t you ever threaten me again. You won’t threaten the MP ever again will you?"
The MP then walked away.
Mr Fellows had a lump to his head and sought medical help after the incident, the court heard.
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
The court hears Amesbury and Paul Fellows arrived at the taxi rank in Frodsham alone. The MP denied that he had been aggressive or made any threats.
Mr Fellows said the MP took a step towards him and punched him the face, prosecutor Alison Storey said.
She refers to a video of the incident that shows Amesbury and Mr Fellows being engaged for a period of time.
In the video, Amesbury is heard to shout “what?” a few times, and is seen to then knock Mr Fellow to the ground.
He did not get up, and the MP followed him into the road, and punched him again at least five times.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram has asked the prosecutor to retell the details of the assault, and "operate on the basis that he has read nothing".
He wants the facts of the case to be read out in "more detail than normal", the court hears.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram has now entered the court, asked Amesbury to stand, and to confirm his date of birth and address.
Prosecutor Alison Storey tells the court that he pleaded guilty to assault.
Kaleigh Watterson
BBC Cheshire political reporter
It is full house at Chester Magistrates' Court this morning for the sentencing of Mike Amesbury.
It was fairly busy at his last appearance in January, when he pleaded guilty to assault, but it is even busier at this one.
I’m currently sitting in an overspill court with other journalists, and waiting to watch the proceedings on a video link.
Outside, there are photographers, camera crews and police officers.