Grieving mum of one-punch victim 'disgusted' by Mike Amesbury sentence
The MP was given a suspended sentence for punching a man in the street
The grieving mum of a one-punch victim says she's 'disgusted' at the sentence given to Cheshire MP Mike Amesbury.
The Runcorn and Helsby politician was given a ten-week jail term at Chester Magistrate's Court last week for punching a man in the street in the early hours in Frodsham.
That punch caused him to fall to the floor, and Amesbury then threw five more punches before bystanders rushed over to intervene.
Upon appeal at Chester Crown Court, the sentence was suspended for two years - allowing Mr Amesbury to walk free.
He was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, undertake an anger management course, and undertake a 12-month alcohol monitoring requirement.
The victim suffered minor injuries, but judge Steven Everett referenced that he'd seen many cases before his court where a one-punch attack had led to people suffering serious injuries or death.
Maxine Thompson-Curl's son Kristian Thompson died at the age of 19 in 2011 - months after he was punched in the head on his 19th birthday in Consett.
She then launched the charity 'One Punch UK' to campaign and educate others, in memory of her son, to try and prevent other families going through the same pain that hers are still enduring.
Maxine said:
"It's a disgrace and it's an insult - it's an insult to my son who was killed by a one-punch assault and hundreds of other people we support throughout this country.
"The sentencing levels are pathetic anyway. The lad who killed my son got sentenced to grievous bodily harm - he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years and he only served nine months for taking my beautiful boy's life away from him.
"For him to get a suspended sentence when really you should be making an example of him, there he is in the limelight, he should be made an example of.
"Alcohol is our responsibility in how much we take in, we know our limits.
"I think it's disgraceful."
After leaving court last week, Mr Amesbury said:
"I'd like to reiterate that I sincerely apologise once again to Mr Fellows and his family.
"I'm now going to go and see my family, and go home, and I'll give a statement at a later stage."
He refused to answer questions as to whether he would be resigning as an MP.
He currently sits as an independent, but his sentence can lead to him being ousted.
A by-election will take place if at least 10% of his constituents back a recall petition.
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