Labour MP Mike Amesbury pleads responsible to sucker-punching constituent in late-night row over winter gasoline funds
Mike Amesbury has pleaded guilty to assaulting a constituent after he was captured on video footage punching a man in his constituency.
The Labour MP for Runcorn and Helsby was caught on CCTV ‘sucker-punching’ father Paul Fellows, 42, last year.
The pair were in a row in a taxi queue over Labour’s plans to means test the winter fuel payment and the closure of the Sutton Weaver swing bridge moments before the fracas.
The incident took place at around 2:15am on October 26 in Frodsham, Cheshire.
Video footage showed how Amesbury was talking animatedly with Mr Fellows before suddenly launching a violent left hook at his head.
He was then seen to strike Mr Fellows at least five times as he lay on the ground.
The 55-year-old was heard accusing his constituent of threatening him as he left the scene shouting.
Amesbury was summonsed to Chester Magistrates’ Court to face a charge of section 39 assault and today admitted the charge.
Mike Amesbury has pleaded guilty to assaulting a constituent after he was captured on video footage punching a man in his constituency
The CCTV footage shows how Amesbury, 55, appeared to be talking in an animated fashion with the man before suddenly knocking him down on the high street of the market town of Frodsham, Cheshire at 2.15am on Saturday morning
Paul Fellows (pictured leaving his home on October 29 carrying an overnight bag) said he had spoken to police after being punched to the ground by Labour MP Mike Amesbury
Alison Storey, prosecuting, told the court at about 2am on October 26 last year victim Paul Fellows was in Frodsham town centre and went to a taxi rank.
He was alone and had been drinking, she said.
Ms Storey said: ‘Mr Amesbury arrived at the same taxi rank. He too was alone and he too had been drinking.’
The court heard Mr Fellows recognised Amesbury and approached him to remonstrate about a bridge closure in the town.
She said CCTV showed engagement between them over a period of several minutes, but no aggression or raised voices.
She said: ‘At one point Mr Fellows started to walk away but was re-engaged by Mr Amesbury.’
Amesbury was heard to say ‘what’ a few times before shouting it, the court heard.
Ms Storey said Mr Fellows put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the taxi queue, but when he turned back Amesbury punched him to the head, knocking him to the ground.
Mr Amesbury was caught on CCTV punching Mr Fellows after a heated exchange
After the attack, Amesbury told Mr Fellows: ‘Don’t threaten me ever again’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is pictured here with Amesbury on the campaign trail in Weaver Vale, Cheshire in 2019
He followed him onto the road after he fell and started to punch him again, at least five times, she said.
He was suspended from the Labour Party following the incident and now sits as an independent MP.
After the shocking incident Amesbury was filmed telling Mr Fellows: ‘Don’t ever threaten me again. Don’t threaten me ever again.’
After being charged, Amesbury said: ‘I have today been summonsed to court to face a charge of common assault following an incident in Frodsham last month, which was deeply regrettable.
‘I am continuing to cooperate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.’
Amesbury has been a member of the Labour party since the age of 17 and he became an MP in 2017.
The MP was shadow minister for work, pensions and employment from July 2018 until April 2020 when he became shadow minister for housing, communities and local Government.
He had the same Shadow title after September 2021 in the new department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities until June 2022 when he stood down saying he couldn’t give role ‘the energy it demands’ and wanted to do more to help his constituents.
Amesbury later came back as Shadow minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government until May 2024.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
