MP Mike Amesbury jailed for 10 weeks for punching constituent in street

Summary

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

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Watch: CCTV captures moment Mike Amesbury MP punches man

Live Reporting

Edited by Tom Mullen and Ewan Gawne, with Erica Witherington and Kaleigh Watterson reporting from court

Short wait before judge arrives due to high interestpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time
A court official has said the judge will be arriving at 11:00.
He has asked Amesbury to confirm if he is happy to wait in the dock until then, which he has said he is.
It is understood the delay is to allow more members of the press to take their place in an overspill courtroom.
Amesbury enters the courtroompublished at 10:49 Greenwich Mean Time
The MP, wearing a dark suit and red tie, has arrived in the courtroom at Chester Magistrates' Court and taken his seat in the dock, from where he is due to be sentenced for assault.
The court is now waiting for Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, who is presiding over the hearing to enter.
Alison Storey is prosecuting for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Who is the Wythenshawe-born MP?published at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time
Amesbury's career as an MP began in 2017, but before that, he was a councillor on Manchester City Council.
During that time, he worked with well-known Labour figures including deputy leader Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Cheshire political reporter Kaleigh Watterson has taken a look at his political career.
Press seats 'overflowing' ahead of MP's sentencingpublished at 10:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Chester Magistrates' Court
Press photographers and news crews were out in force for Mike Amesbury’s arrival at Chester Crown Court.
As he approached the entrance, he had to wait in the line to get through security, allowing the eager snappers more time than usual to get his picture.
Ambesbury’s case is one of several being heard in Court One this morning.
The press seats are full to overflowing as we now wait for him to appear.
Amesbury had Labour whip withdrawn days after footage emergedpublished at 10:19
Days after the assault in Frodsham in the early hours of 26 October, Amesbury was suspended by the Labour Party, meaning he is currently an independent MP.
At the time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described video footage of the incident as "shocking", adding the party had "moved very swiftly to respond".
Image source, EPA
Chester Magistrates' Court openspublished at 10:10
The court building has opened with MP, press and public allowed to enter.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Judge Tan Ikram will oversee the sentencing.
An overspill court has been opened to allow everyone in.
What could a conviction mean for the MP?published at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time
If Amesbury is sent to prison or he receives a suspended jail sentence then constituents can attempt to have him removed from his seat with a recall petition.
Such a petition allows voters to remove an elected representative between elections.
If more than 10% of voters to sign the petition, a by-election is triggered.
A recall petition would also be triggered if the House of Commons decided to suspend him for 10 sitting days or more.
A by-election would also be called if Amesbury were to resign.
Mike Amesbury arrives at courtpublished at 09:46 Greenwich Mean Time
Amesbury has arrived at Chester Magistrates' Court ahead of his sentencing later.
There is a large media presence outside the building.
Attack 'highly regrettable'published at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time
After pleading guilty to the attack, the MP said it was "highly regrettable", adding he was "sincerely sorry" to his victim Paul Fellows.
Image source, Reuters
Suspended by Labourpublished at 09:42 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, PA Media
Amesbury was suspended from the Labour Party and currently sits as an independent MP.
The video, which did not show the lead up to the altercation, recorded the MP shouting: "You won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?"
Sentencing for street assaultpublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time
Mike Amesbury is due to be sentenced at Chester Magistrates’ Court for assault by beating.
He pleaded guilty to the attack 45-year-old Paul Fellows last month.
In October last year a video emerged showing him punching a man to the ground in his Cheshire constituency.
He was suspended from the Labour Party shortly afterwards.
Who is Mike Amesbury?published at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, PA Media
Born in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester on 6 May 1969, Mike Amesbury MP joined Labour at the age of about 17 when his family were living in Castleford, Yorkshire.
He said the miners' strikes were a key part of his motivation.
The 55-year-old said he was the first person in his family to get a degree and worked as a careers adviser.
He was first elected to Parliament in 2017, winning the seat of Weaver Vale from the Conservatives, and held it until it was abolished before the 2024 general election.
He was elected to the newly-created seat of Runcorn and Helsby receiving a majority of just under 15,000.