Evening Standard/London

Disgraced former MP Eric Joyce has been convicted of assaulting two teenage boys in a north London shop.
Joyce was found guilty of two counts of common assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, after denying the charges.
The court heard that the 54-year-old assaulted two boys, aged 14 and 15, at News and Food Express near to Chalk Farm Tube station, in Camden, on the evening of October 17 last year.
Prosecutor Jon Swain said Joyce was standing near a drinks fridge when he came into contact with one of the boys, who tried to pass him in a narrow aisle.
After an “exchange of words”, the former Falkirk MP grabbed the teenager and he was knocked to the floor, Swain told the court.
“Joyce continued to hold on and wrestle (the boy),” he said.
“At one point he held him by the neck.”
Swain said the second boy tried to help his friend but was elbowed by Joyce and winded.
“It’s the Crown’s case that the actions taken by Joyce constituted an unjustified and unprovoked assault on both boys,” Swain said.
Giving evidence, Joyce insisted he had overcome his battle with alcohol as his previous convictions were read to the court.
Prosecutor Jon Swain said the defendant had been convicted of four common assaults in a House of Commons bar and of a breach of the peace at Edinburgh Airport.
Joyce told the court: “I’ve put my hand up to every wrong thing I’ve done in my life... There was quite clearly an issue with alcohol. There has not been for some time.”
Joyce said he was performing a “citizen’s arrest” when he held the boy down on the floor because the youngster had tried to knock over a shelf.
The former Labour MP told the court he felt “threatened” when the boys walked past him because one was shouting and swearing.
“I thought he was going to raise his hand and strike me with his telephone,” he told the court.
“I was a little bit shocked how aggressive he was.”
Joyce, a former Army major, told the court he had entered the shop to buy a Diet Coke on his way home from work.
The court was played CCTV footage of the alleged attacks which showed a display in the shop topple over during the incident.
The independent MP for Falkirk resigned from the Labour Party following his assault conviction in 2012. He is not seeking re-election after standing down in March.
Joyce was released on conditional bail ahead of sentencing on May 27.
District judge John Zani said:  “In my view, you underplayed the violence you meted out to these young men and wanted the police called so as to justify your actions.
“You readily told police, incorrectly, that (one boy) headbutted you for no reason.”
He added: “Given my findings and your previous convictions, all options including imprisonment will be considered.”

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