LONDON – A British member of Parliament has been sentenced to 10 weeks in jail after attacking a constituent in a drunken state on the street. Mike Amesbury, aged 55, faced suspension from the Labour Party following the incident that occurred last year. The lawmaker admitted to assaulting Paul Fellows, a 45-year-old man, during a court appearance at Chester Magistrates’ Court.
This incident makes Amesbury the first sitting member of Parliament to receive a prison sentence since 2019. That year, Fiona Onasanya was sentenced to three months for deceiving police about a speeding offense, becoming the first MP jailed in thirty years.
The altercation happened on October 26 in Frodsham, a northwest English town, as Amesbury was en route to a taxi stand. Earlier, he attended a local meeting on policing and community safety. Prosecutors stated that Fellows confronted him regarding a nearby bridge closure.
According to surveillance footage, Amesbury struck Fellows in the face, sending him sprawling onto the street. He continued to punch him multiple times until bystanders intervened. During the attack, Amesbury was heard using profanity, accusing Fellows of threatening him and calling him derogatory terms.
Both Amesbury and Fellows had been drinking prior to the incident. Though Fellows sustained no serious injuries, Judge Tan Ikram referenced other cases where a single punch led to fatalities.
Richard Derby, Amesbury’s defense attorney, noted that the incident was a lapse in behavior and suggested that any punishment couldn’t outweigh the damage to Amesbury’s reputation. However, Judge Ikram dismissed the plea for a lighter sentence, emphasizing the need for accountability and a deterrence to such conduct.
“Drunken and unprovoked violence in the early morning outside is gravely serious and cannot be managed solely by community service or a lesser penalty,” Judge Ikram stated. He added that it was by luck that Fellows suffered only minor injuries and was spared further harm by the intervention of the public.
Derby tried, without success, to appeal the decision as his client was taken into custody. Following the sentence, opposing political factions demanded Amesbury’s resignation from his role representing Runcorn and Helsby. A recall petition could trigger his removal and lead to a special election if supported by 10% of his constituents.
