Former Labour MP who punched a constituent appears on morning TV with alcohol tag
An ex-MP who repeatedly punched a constituent after drinking ‘six or seven pints on an empty stomach’ showed the alcohol tag on his ankle on morning television.
Mike Amesbury said he was now living a ‘nightmare’, but admitted it was of his own making.
The former Labour MP resigned his seat, triggering a by-election for Runcorn & Helsby in Cheshire.
Mr Amesbury spent three nights in prison for attacking Paul Fellows, 45, in the street.
He pleaded guilty to assault after the row, which was filmed by CCTV. Footage showed Mr Amesbury punch his victim in the head, knock him to the ground, then follow him onto the road and punch him again at least five times before shocked bystanders pulled him away.
The former MP said he felt ‘threatened’ when his constituent told him he was upset about local issues, but acknowledged that attacking him was the ‘wrong’ judgment call.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Amesbury rolled up his suit trouser leg to show the bulky black tag on his ankle, which he must wear for 120 days.
It takes a measurement of his sweat every 30 minutes, in order to monitor whether he has consumed alchol.
Mr Amesbury said he had not touched booze since the disastrous evening, and said he intended to stay sober even after the mandatory period of wearing the tag is finished.
He told hosts that the assault happened after a busy Friday in parliament on October 26 last year, when he was a relatively new MP and feeling anxious with Labour ‘having a tough time’.
After visiting three pubs, he was the worse for wear when he was recognised by a constituent in the street in Frodsham, who confronted him.
‘I was a very public face in community, a connected Member of Parliament but whether it winter fuel, other issues as well,’ he said. ‘People quite, quite vexed.
‘Lots of members of parliament got personal alarms on them and so forth.
‘Mr Fellows was somewhat vexed about, I think it was a local bridge. I think you mentioned winter fuel as well.
‘I did feel personally threatened at that time and I made an instantaneous judgment call which was wrong. I should have walked away.’
He said that he was ‘being punished and rightfully so’.
What is an alcohol tag?
It looks similar to a police electronic tag, which limits where someone can travel, but has a different purpose.
The ankle bracelet takes sweat samples every 30 minutes for the duration of the time it is worn, which can be up to 120 days.
They are used for people convicted of alcohol-related crimes. If any alcohol comsumption is detected, authorities will be notified.
Those caught drinking while wearing such a tag can face legal penalties including fines, community service, or even being sent to prison, depending on the conditions imposed and severity of the offence.
Mr Amesbury was initially given a 10-week prison term, which was reduced to a suspended sentence after an appeal meaning he only spent three nights at HMP Altcourse.
He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, undertake a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement, go on an anger management course and complete 20 days of rehabilitation work.
After he resigned his seat, a writ to trigger a by-election is due to be issued in Wednesday. The vote must take place between 21 and 27 working days after this, suggesting it will be scheduled for May 1.
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