Jeremy Corbyn egged: CCTV captures moment Brexit supporter hits Labour leader with egg - as attacker John Murphy is jailed for 28 days

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This is the moment a Brexit supporter smashes an egg over Jeremy Corbyn's head in an “attack on the democratic process.”

John Murphy, 31, shouted “respect the vote” as he ambushed Mr Corbyn during talks with leaders of the Finsbury Park Mosque, striking the politician on the right side of his head while holding an egg.

The Labour leader said he saw Murphy’s face “contorted in anger” as he repeated his Brexit-supporting mantra after the attack, which has left the politician, his family, and staff distressed and worried about his security.

Murphy pleaded guilty today to common assault by beating, and was jailed for 28 days by Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot at Westminster magistrates court.

“An attack like this is an attack on the democratic process”, she said. “The impact on Jeremy Corbyn has been considerable, he says he was very shocked and surprised and he had always previously felt safe.”

Jeremy Corbyn visiting the mosque in Finsbury Park before he was attacked by 31-year-old John Murphy
PA

The judge said the Labour leader was “particularly vulnerable” due to his high-profile political role, adding that CCTV of the attack showed the “level of aggression” from Murphy.

“Mr Corbyn wouldn’t have been able to anticipate being hit, or that the assault would stop after one hit”, she added. “Mr Corbyn was particularly vulnerable because of his position as Leader of the Opposition.”

Murphy’s lawyer, Malik Aldeiri, had claimed Mr Corbyn had “over-egged” the impact of the attack on March 3, and he urged the judge to not jail the attacker.

The moment Jeremy Corbyn was struck over the head by an egg in an attack
Crown Prosecution Service

But she told the court: “Attacks on MPs must stop, of whatever type, with an egg or in any other way. The message needs to go out that the courts will not allow this to continue.”

Mr Corbyn was on his annual Visit My Mosque Day appearance at the Finsbury Park Mosque when he was attacked, in an upstairs room of the adjacent Muslim Welfare House.

“Mr Corbyn said the atmosphere was friendly and everyone seemed to be in good spirits - he didn’t feel as though there were any issues”, said prosecutor Kevin Christie.

“Suddenly he felt a strike to the right side of his forehead and then realised someone had reached over his right shoulder and struck him.

“As he was struck he heard a male voice shout ‘respect the vote’.”

The Labour leader was ushered away to a side room as Murphy was detained, and then realised he had been hit with an egg. The court heard Murphy had a further four eggs on him when searched at the police station.

“The male was repeatedly shouting ‘respect the vote’ while being restrained by staff”, added the prosecutor, playing a short CCTV clip of the incident. “Mr Corbyn described see the male with his face contorted in anger. He appeared to be acting in a very aggressive manner after striking him.”

The attack happened a week after Labour announced it would support calls for a second referendum on Brexit.

In his impact statement, Mr Corbyn said he has been forced to review his personal security, and his family including wife Laura – who was sat next to him when the attack happened – have been left “stressed and distressed”.

“I feel this kind of attack drive a wedge between elected representatives and those who elect them in the first place”, he said.

“While I’m in a very public role, it’s often very painful to see my wife, sons, and wider family suffer deep stress because of my role and because of these attacks upon me.

“It impacts our lives but I’m determined I will carry on in my public role and ensure that I never cut off from the people I represent.”

A Brexit supporter has been jailed after he admitted attacking Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with an egg
PA

Mr Aldeiri told the court Murphy “regrets his actions” but has not offered any remorse, and that he “offers his apologies to the Muslim Welfare House for disturbing their peace and tranquillity.”

But he said that Mr Corbyn’s impact statement was “slightly over-egged”, adding: “All public servants, rightly or wrongly, will receive varying degrees of animosity and always have that around them.”

He said Murphy, who works as a part-time events promoter, bought six eggs when he heard Mr Corbyn was coming to the Islamic centre, and the attack was borne out of “frustration and anger”.

“It was borne out of the political situation we find ourselves in, he believes his civil rights have been violated and it was a demonstration by him and a rebellion against what he says is a failure to adhere to a democratic vote”, said Mr Aldeiri.

Judge Arbuthnot said Murphy, from Whetstone, north London, would serve 14 days behind bars and be on licence for the next year. He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

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