Labour MP Walks Free After Referendum Assualt Charge

A Labour MP charged with attacking a woman at a polling station on the day of the independence referendum has walked free - after an apparent blunder by prosecutors.

Marie Rimmer had been accused of kicking Patricia McLeish outside Shettleston Community Centre in Glasgows Shettleston last September 18.

The 68 year-old - MP for St Helens in Merseyside - was in Scotland at the time supporting the Better Together campaign.

Rimmer's stood trial at the citys sheriff court accused of assault.

But, the case collapsed midway through Miss McLeish giving evidence after Sheriff Brian Adair noticed the word Glasgow had not been listed on the charge.

This lead him to question whether there was the proper jurisdiction for the case to continue.

Fiscal Adele McDonald asked for the trial to carry on, but Rimmers lawyer Liam Ewing claimed the charge was not permissable due to the error.

Sheriff Adair eventually decided to throw out the case against the MP, who first faced the allegation last October.

He told Rimmer the accusation was being dismissed due to lack of location in the charge.

Rimmer made no comment as she left court after the bungled hearing.

Miss McLeish had earlier given evidence branding Rimmer delusional for the alleged attack outside the polling station in the citys east end.

The 51 year-old local government worker had been handing out leaflets for the Yes campaign at the time.

The witness claimed the MP had confronted her and initially demanded to know what Miss McLeish worked as.

Miss McLeish said she ignored Rimmer, but she came back up to her again quite angry.

Miss McLeish then alleged: She was facing me, came up into my face and she kicked me.

She had invaded my persona space - I had never seen that before at a polling station.

She kicked me on the left shin and smirked after she done this. It was determined.

I remember saying this was a disgrace. I could no believe an older woman would do that to another woman.

The witness insisted she thought Rimmer had mental health problems and initially had not wanted to report the matter to police.

But, officers later took a statement that lead to Rimmer being arrested.

It is believed Rimmer spent up to eight hours in a police cells after being held.

The OAP was elected in Mays General Election having previously been leader of St Helens Council.