Agencies/London
Former MP Eric Joyce yesterday escaped prison for his “unjustified and unprovoked” attack on two teenagers in a north London shop.
The ex-Labour MP for Falkirk, 54, had attacked the boys, aged 14 and 15, at News and Food Express in Chalk Farm last October.
CCTV showed how Joyce had knocked the 15-year-old to the floor and wrestled with him while striking his younger friend, who tried to intervene. When police officers arrived Joyce claimed he had been trying to perform a citizen’s arrest as one of the boys had been aggressive. He was convicted of common assault at Westminster magistrates’ court this month.
Joyce was convicted in 2012 of four common assaults in a House of Commons bar - which led to his resignation from the Labour Party - and last year of breaching the peace at Edinburgh Airport after being ‘’threatening and abusive’’.
In passing sentence for Joyce’s latest attack, district judge Zani said: “In my view the evidence against you was very overwhelming and the defence that you put forward was lacking in any credibility, particularly when one looks at the CCTV evidence and your interpretation of what that demonstrated, I’m afraid, vastly differed from the way I saw the events portrayed.”
He went on: “The events in October 2014 did you no credit. Your reaction to what you perceived was happening in the shop was entirely unacceptable.”
The judge told him that he must ensure he avoids violence in the future.
“I’m just able in all the circumstances here to suspended the term of imprisonment,” he said.
“I consider that you have dealt with your alcohol problem and you need to focus on dealing with situations where there is a requirement for you not to resort to violence.”
Judge Zani imposed a 10-week sentence, suspended for two years, 120 hours of unpaid work and entry into a rehabilitation scheme.
Joyce stood in the dock wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie as the sentence was handed down.
In mitigation, Neil Corre had urged the judge to suspend any custodial term because of his efforts to battle his drink problem.
“This is an intelligent, healthy man who has served his country in the armed services and in parliament,” he said.
“He understands that his previous offending was because he had a drink problem and it’s in my submission an indication of the strength of his character that he himself has overcome that drink problem through determination and will power.
“That is why in my submission he is a positive candidate for a suspended sentence.”
Speaking after the hearing, Joyce said: “I think that is a fair outcome.”
Eric Joyce: verdict a ‘fair outcome’
