{"id":3194,"date":"2025-02-27T17:58:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/mp-mike-amesburys-jail-term-suspended-on-appeal\/"},"modified":"2025-02-27T17:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:58:09","slug":"mp-mike-amesburys-jail-term-suspended-on-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/mp-mike-amesburys-jail-term-suspended-on-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"MP Mike Amesbury&#8217;s jail term suspended on appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>MP Mike Amesbury&#8217;s jail term suspended on appeal<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-0 haItSe\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-1 cjDa-dM\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-27T16:06:20.591Z\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-2 jViTsK\">2 hours ago<\/time><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new-contributors\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-12 fcCDwR\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-5 evAEAB\">\n<div><span class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-7 kItaYD\">Paul Burnell<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>BBC News<!-- --><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 ejjhCR\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/suyYjZ.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/d6ba\/live\/0ab2a360-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"PA Media Mike Amesbury, a middle-aged white man with short, grey hair, is wearing a black jacket with a white shirt and dark red tie. On top of his suit he wears an unzipped dark coat. He is surrounded by journalists, and there is a large fluffy microphone being pointed towards him.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\" readability=\"26.758620689655\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">MP Mike Amesbury, who admitted repeatedly punching a constituent in the street, has had his 10-week prison sentence suspended following an appeal.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The Runcorn and Helsby MP assaulted Paul Fellows, 45, following a row in Frodsham, Cheshire, last year and was jailed by magistrates on Monday.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Amesbury, who <!-- -->had the Labour whip removed<!-- --> in October, launched an appeal and a judge said that while the length of the sentence had been &#8220;spot on&#8221;, it should be suspended for two years.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Judge Steven Everett, sitting with two magistrates at Chester Crown Court, also ordered Amesbury to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/suyYjZ.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4e54\/live\/746867e0-f521-11ef-9339-81d4ea72d09f.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"PA Media Mike Amesbury, wearing a black coat and white shirt, enters the court building handcuffed to a partially obscured prison officer.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\" readability=\"29\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Amesbury must also undertake an alcohol monitoring programme, go on an anger management course, and carry out 20 days of rehabilitation work.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">His sentence still leaves the 55-year-old MP, who now sits as an independent, at risk of being ousted.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">If at least 10% of his constituents back a recall petition, a by-election will take place.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Leaving court, Amesbury refused to answer questions from the waiting media about whether he would resign as an MP.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">But he said: &#8220;I&#8217;d like to reiterate that I sincerely apologise once again to Mr Fellows and his family.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;I&#8217;m now going to go and see my family, and go home, and I&#8217;ll give a statement at a later stage.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\" readability=\"30\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Video footage of the assault, which happened near a taxi rank in the early hours of 26 October, which was played in court.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">It showed Amesbury punching Mr Fellows in the head, knocking him to the ground.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The politician then hit him at least five more times and swore at him.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Amesbury was then heard saying: &#8220;You won&#8217;t threaten your MP again, will you?&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Judge Everett told Amesbury the facts showed him &#8220;in a truly unfavourable light&#8221; and, as an MP, he &#8220;should be showing an example&#8221;. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">While acknowledging it would be wrong to sentence him differently because he was an MP, the judge added: &#8220;That doesn&#8217;t mean we can&#8217;t take into account that your behaviour as an MP was simply disgraceful.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">He said he also could not ignore Amesbury&#8217;s &#8220;heavy drinking and fighting&#8221;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 DkKTF\">&#8216;Pack of lies&#8217;<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\" readability=\"40\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The former Labour politician had arrived at court in a prison van and wore handcuffs as he was led into the building.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The court heard that, in a prepared statement given in a police interview, Amesbury claimed he had been approached by a man &#8220;shouting and screaming&#8221; about local and national matters.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The MP said that, because he was terrified and the other man&#8217;s &#8220;arms were swinging&#8221;, he felt he had no option but to &#8220;defend&#8221; himself.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">But the judge told him the CCTV pictures revealed a very different story.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;In reality, you told the police a pack of lies. Nothing more, nothing less,&#8221; he said.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Judge Everett questioned why a charge of affray &#8211; which can carry a longer sentence &#8211; had not been brought by the prosecution.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Daniel Travers, defending Amesbury, told the court: &#8220;He&#8217;s now had three nights in prison which is an experience he will never forget, certainly.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">He said the &#8220;public shaming&#8221; and &#8220;embarrassment&#8221; had had a huge impact on his client.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\"> &#8220;This is a man who will certainly rehabilitate,&#8221; said Mr Travers. &#8220;He will learn a very painful lesson.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 DkKTF\">&#8216;Parliamentary rules&#8217;<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\" readability=\"37.531523642732\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The confirmation of Amesbury&#8217;s prison sentence, even though it has now been suspended, could still result in him being ousted from the Commons.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The long-time Labour politician has been sitting as an independent MP for the last four months, following his suspension by party bosses.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Under parliamentary rules, if an MP receives a custodial sentence a &#8220;recall petition&#8221; is triggered.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">After hearing from Chester Crown Court, the Speaker of the House of Commons will contact the returning officer for Amesbury&#8217;s Runcorn and Helsby constituency.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Constituents will then have six weeks to ask for their MP&#8217;s removal by registering at 10 nominated places.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">If at least 10% of them vote to remove Amesbury, a by-election will be called.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">It would be the first by-election since Labour came to power following the July 2024 general election.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Having first been elected as a Labour MP in the Cheshire constituency of Weaver Vale in 2017, Amesbury <!-- -->comfortably won the Runcorn and Helsby seat<!-- --> which was created following boundary changes.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">He secured 53% of the vote and  enjoyed a majority of more than 14,000.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Reform UK beat the Conservatives (16%) into second place.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:06:20 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MP Mike Amesbury&#8217;s jail term suspended on appeal 2 hours ago Paul Burnell BBC News PA Media MP Mike Amesbury, who admitted repeatedly punching a constituent in the street, has had his 10-week prison sentence suspended following an appeal. The Runcorn and Helsby MP assaulted Paul Fellows, 45, following a row in Frodsham, Cheshire, last&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/mp-mike-amesburys-jail-term-suspended-on-appeal\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">MP Mike Amesbury&#8217;s jail term suspended on appeal<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-politics","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}