Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury jailed for 10 weeks after 3am punch

Suspended Labour Mike Amesbury has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to punching a man following a 3am street row.

The Runcorn and Helsby MP, who has been sitting as an independent since he was suspended following his arrest last year, appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He was kicked out of the Labour Party last month when he pleaded guilty to assault by beating after punching 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Cheshire in October.

The court heard Amesbury, 55, had been drinking before he arrived at a taxi rank, where Mr Fellows approached him to remonstrate about a bridge closure in the town.

Footage showed Amesbury punching Mr Fellows to the head, knocking him to the ground, then following him on to the road and starting to punch him again, at least five times.

He was then heard saying "You won't threaten your MP again will you?"

Sentencing Amesbury, deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram said: "In this case an immediate custodial sentence is, in my judgment, necessary as a punishment and a deterrent." Mr Amesbury was taken down by two dock officers.

Speaking after the MP's last court hearing, a Labour Party spokesman said: "It is right that Mike Amesbury has taken responsibility for his unacceptable actions.

"He was rightly suspended by the Labour Party following the announcement of the police investigation. We cannot comment further whilst legal proceedings are still ongoing."

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