Disgraced MP Mike Amesbury showed off his alcohol detector tag on live television this morning after drunkenly assaulting a constituent.
The former Labour MP punched a man after a night out in October and has since had to resign from his seat in parliament.
He told ITV’s Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid: ‘It’s a living nightmare – but it’s a nightmare that I created.’
The one-time Shadow Employment Minister was confronted by Paul Fellows about a bridge closure at 2am on October 26 last year.
He knocked Mr Fellows to the ground with one punch to his face and then, as he lay on the ground, delivered another five blows to the head.
As he did so 55-year-old Amesbury shouted: ‘You won’t threaten the MP again, will you, you f****** soft lad’.
The married father-of-one pleaded guilty to common assault and accepted Mr Fellows had not physically provoked him.
He spent three nights detained at His Majesty’s Pleasure earlier this month before successfully appealing his 10-week jail sentence.
Mike Amesbury said: ‘It’s a living nightmare – but it’s a nightmare that I created’ in reference to punching a constituent in October
Amesbury showed off his electronic tag on Good Morning Britain this morning
Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid speak to Mike Amesbury on Good Morning Britain this morning
His punishment was downgraded to a suspended sentence and he must now carry out 200 hours of community service.
The former labour MP was spotted last week being picked up with fellow workers in a Probation Service van.
In a sit-down studio interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain Amesbury said: ‘I had about six or seven pints on an empty stomach and had been to three pubs.
‘It was a Friday which is a busy day for members of parliament with constituents. The judge made a decision to use an alcohol tag.
‘I’ve got this on for 180 days and every half hour it measures your sweat and it’s zero alcohol intake for 120 days. I intend to go beyond 120 days.’
Co-presenter Richard Madeley spoke directly to Amesbury, saying it must feel ‘surreal’ sitting here on television talking about having to wear an alcohol detector tag.
Amesbury said: ‘It does. It’s a living nightmare – but it’s a nightmare that I created. I pleaded guilty at the first stage in the legal process and I own that. I’m being punished and rightfully so.’
A clip of the interview was posted on X by Good Morning Britain and has been viewed more than 27.8K times.
The video has sparked debate in the comments with some users questioning why he was given a platform to speak about his crime.
One user said: ‘Aren’t we supposed to look up to the people running our country?’
Amesbury is seen leaving hester Crown Court after he had his 10-week prison sentence for assault suspended for two years following an appeal
The one-time Shadow Employment Minister’s punishment was downgraded to a suspended sentence and he must now carry out 200 hours of community service. His tag is seen in a snip from Good Morning Britain
Amesbury punched Paul Fellows and continued to do so another five times as he lay on the ground. A static shot shows the encounter
Mr Fellows wasn’t looking for trouble when he encountered Amesbury at a taxi rank at 2am on October 26
Other jested that he would be the next contestant on the reality shows I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! or Big Brother.
In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, Mr Fellows spoke for the first time about the unprovoked attack.
He said that police initially told him – incorrectly – that CCTV cameras failed to capture the incident.
Yet footage from a camera by a minicab office showed the sickening assault.
‘He could have killed me and deserves to be in prison,’ said Mr Fellows.
‘He should never have been let out so early.
‘I was standing on the pavement with my hands in my pockets when he punched me in the face. I could easily have hit the back of my head as I fell into the road.
‘The intent was there. If you punch someone you have to accept the consequences – that you might kill them.’
