Former Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been sentenced to 10 weeks in jail after admitting to assaulting a man during an altercation in his Cheshire constituency. The 55-year-old MP for Runcorn and Helsby, now serving as an independent, pleaded guilty to assaulting 45-year-old Paul Fellows after a video emerged capturing the violent incident.

The assault took place in the early hours of October 26 in Frodsham, Cheshire. Footage of the altercation showed Amesbury punching Mr. Fellows to the ground and continuing the attack while the victim lay defenseless.

Amesbury was subsequently suspended from the Labour Party following the incident and has been serving as an independent MP since.

Court Details: ‘A Loss of Emotional Control’

At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram handed down the custodial sentence, citing the severity of the unprovoked attack. “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,” Ikram remarked.

The court heard that Amesbury’s actions were driven by “anger and loss of emotional control.” Magistrate Ikram emphasized that the MP’s behavior was especially concerning due to the continuation of the assault after Mr. Fellows was already on the ground.

“You continued to attack when he was on the ground and it may have continued further had a bystander not intervened,” said the magistrate. “You continued to rant, your position ought to be as a role model to others.”

A Serious Offense Warranting Custody

Despite acknowledging Amesbury’s previously unblemished record and his years of public service, the magistrate stressed that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary both as punishment and as a deterrent.

“I am of the view that unprovoked drunken behavior is too serious to be dealt with unpaid work,” Ikram declared, dismissing any option for a non-custodial sentence. He added that while Amesbury was unlikely to reoffend, the gravity of the offense and the fact that it was stopped only by public intervention warranted jail time.

The court also ordered Amesbury to pay costs to the victim. Following sentencing, the MP was escorted from the dock by court ushers.

Political Fallout and Public Reaction

The assault and subsequent conviction have sparked widespread criticism and calls for Amesbury to resign his parliamentary seat. Political analysts have suggested that the incident could lead to a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.

The Labour Party has yet to release an official statement on the sentencing, though party insiders have hinted that Amesbury’s return to Labour is highly unlikely following his conviction.

Locals in his constituency have expressed a mix of shock and disappointment. “It’s hard to believe that someone who has served our community for so long could be involved in something like this,” said one Runcorn resident. “He’s let a lot of people down.”

As Amesbury begins his 10-week sentence, questions loom over his political future and the steps needed to restore public trust in the area he once represented.