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| Ex-Falkirk MP Eric Joyce sentenced for assaulting two teenagers | Ex-Falkirk MP Eric Joyce sentenced for assaulting two teenagers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Falkirk MP Eric Joyce who was convicted of attacking two teenagers in an "unjustified and unprovoked" assault has been sentenced. | Former Falkirk MP Eric Joyce who was convicted of attacking two teenagers in an "unjustified and unprovoked" assault has been sentenced. |
| The 54-year-old was found guilty of two counts of common assault against the boys, aged 14 and 15, in a food store in north London, in October 2014. | The 54-year-old was found guilty of two counts of common assault against the boys, aged 14 and 15, in a food store in north London, in October 2014. |
| One boy had been knocked to the floor, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. | One boy had been knocked to the floor, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. |
| Joyce was sentenced to a 10-week jail term suspended for two years. He said the sentencing was a "fair outcome". | Joyce was sentenced to a 10-week jail term suspended for two years. He said the sentencing was a "fair outcome". |
| The former Labour MP was ordered to pay a £1,080 fine and must attend a rehabilitation course which aims to reduce violent behaviour. | The former Labour MP was ordered to pay a £1,080 fine and must attend a rehabilitation course which aims to reduce violent behaviour. |
| District Judge John Zani said: "The events in October 2014 did you no credit. | District Judge John Zani said: "The events in October 2014 did you no credit. |
| "Your reaction to what you perceived was happening in the shop was entirely unacceptable." | "Your reaction to what you perceived was happening in the shop was entirely unacceptable." |
| Joyce was filmed assaulting the teenagers close to the drinks refrigerator in News & Food Express in Chalk Farm at about 21:40 BST on 17 October. | Joyce was filmed assaulting the teenagers close to the drinks refrigerator in News & Food Express in Chalk Farm at about 21:40 BST on 17 October. |
| The court heard he threw the 14-year-old boy to the ground and held him by the throat. | The court heard he threw the 14-year-old boy to the ground and held him by the throat. |
| The boy's friend tried to rescue him but was elbowed by Joyce and winded. | The boy's friend tried to rescue him but was elbowed by Joyce and winded. |
| Prosecutor Jonathan Swain told the trial that it was an "unjustified and unprovoked assault". | Prosecutor Jonathan Swain told the trial that it was an "unjustified and unprovoked assault". |
| The judge said Joyce had underplayed the violence he had used against the boys, only calling the police in an attempt to justify his actions. | The judge said Joyce had underplayed the violence he had used against the boys, only calling the police in an attempt to justify his actions. |
| The "citizen's arrest" defence he had put forward, lacked credibility, especially when compared with the store's CCTV footage, the judge said. | The "citizen's arrest" defence he had put forward, lacked credibility, especially when compared with the store's CCTV footage, the judge said. |
| He told Joyce the evidence against him was overwhelming. | He told Joyce the evidence against him was overwhelming. |
| During sentencing, the judge acknowledged Joyce's attempts to overcome his drinking problem and urged him to restrain himself from violence. | During sentencing, the judge acknowledged Joyce's attempts to overcome his drinking problem and urged him to restrain himself from violence. |
| Joyce was convicted in 2012 of four common assaults in a House of Commons bar, which led to his resignation from the Labour Party. | Joyce was convicted in 2012 of four common assaults in a House of Commons bar, which led to his resignation from the Labour Party. |
| He was fined £1,500 for breaching the peace at Edinburgh Airport after being "threatening and abusive" on 19 May in 2013. | He was fined £1,500 for breaching the peace at Edinburgh Airport after being "threatening and abusive" on 19 May in 2013. |
| Speaking after sentencing, Joyce said: "In the end it was a 14-year-old boy and that is a shame and a cause of considerable remorse and I have to both pay the price and make sure I don't do it again." | Speaking after sentencing, Joyce said: "In the end it was a 14-year-old boy and that is a shame and a cause of considerable remorse and I have to both pay the price and make sure I don't do it again." |