Mike Amesbury, 55, who now sits as an independent MP for Runcorn and Helsby, was initially sentenced to 10 weeks in prison by magistrates on Monday after admitting to assaulting Paul Fellows, 45, following an argument in Frodsham, Cheshire last October.
However, at Chester Crown Court, Judge Steven Everett ruled that while the length of the sentence was “spot on,” it should be suspended for two years. Amesbury must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, participate in an alcohol monitoring program, attend anger management courses, and undertake 20 days of rehabilitation work.
CCTV footage presented in court showed Amesbury punching Fellows in the head, knocking him to the ground, and then hitting him at least five more times while swearing at him. After the assault, Amesbury was heard saying: “You won’t threaten your MP again, will you?”
Judge Everett condemned Amesbury’s behaviour, stating the facts showed him “in a truly unfavourable light” and that as an MP, he “should be showing an example.” The judge also rejected Amesbury’s initial claim to police that he had acted in self-defence against a threatening constituent, calling it “a pack of lies.”
The judge questioned why prosecutors hadn’t brought the more serious charge of affray, which carries a potentially longer sentence.
Amesbury’s defence attorney, Daniel Travers, told the court that his client had experienced “three nights in prison which is an experience he will never forget,” adding that the “public shaming” and “embarrassment” had significantly impacted the MP.
Despite avoiding immediate jail time, Amesbury’s political future remains uncertain. Under parliamentary rules, his custodial sentence, even though suspended, triggers a recall petition. If at least 10% of his constituents sign the petition within six weeks, a by-election will be called, potentially making it the first by-election under the new Labour government.Amesbury had the Labour whip removed in October following the incident and now sits as an independent MP, having won his newly created seat in July’s general election with 53% of the vote.
