PA MediaMP Mike Amesbury has admitted assault by beating after a video emerged showing him punching a man to the ground in his Cheshire constituency.
Amesbury, who represents Runcorn and Helsby, pleaded guilty to assaulting the 45-year-old at Chester Magistrates’ Court.
He was suspended from the Labor Party after footage emerged of the altercation in Frodsham, Cheshire, at 02:45 BST on 26 October last year.
The video, which did not show the lead-up to the brawl, recorded Amesbury shouting: “You’re never going to threaten an MP again, are you?”
Alison Storey, prosecuting, told the court that at around 02:00 GMT the victim Paul Fellows was in Frodsham town center and went to a taxi rank.
He said he was alone and had been drinking.
Ms Storey said: “Mr Amesbury arrived at the same taxi rank. He was also alone and he had also been drinking.”
The court heard that Mr Fellows recognized Amesbury and approached him to express his views about a bridge closure in the town.
He said CCTV showed an engagement between them over the course of several minutes, but there was no aggression or raised voices.
She said: “At one point Mr Fellowes started to leave but Mr Amesbury re-engaged him.”
The court heard Amesbury was heard saying “what” a few times before screaming.
Ms Storey said Mr Fellowes put his hands in his pockets and turned towards the taxi queue, but when he turned back, Amesbury punched him in the head and knocked him to the ground.
After she fell, he followed her down the street and punched her at least five more times, she said.
Amesbury, who now sits as an independent MP, won his seat at the general election in July by a majority of 14,696.
He served under Labor from 2017 and was shadow minister between 2018 and 2024.
Amesbury was bailed to return for sentencing on February 24.