The Daily Post (Liverpool)
CARDIFF, Wales — A drunk politician has been convicted of assaulting medical staff after a fall at a restaurant.
Montgomery Liberal Democrat AM Mick Bates, 62, had denied three assault and public order charges. A judge at Cardiff magistrates court rejected his claims he had a medical condition which left him unaware or responsible for his actions.
He is set to be expelled from the Welsh Liberal Democrat party from which he has been suspended during the case. Bates was simply “one over the eight” with drink, the judge concluded.
He was ordered to pay a total of pounds 5,490 in fines, costs and compensation to his three victims and paid off the amount immediately.
Bates injured his head when he took a tumble down a staircase at Charlstons restaurant in Cardiff early on January 20. He Mick Bates AM: Jenkins said: “The defendant had one too many and it tipped him over the edge.
“This is a very regrettable conviction in relation to an otherwise excellent man of 62-years-of age. It is one blot.” After the hearing a Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We haves a policy of zero tolerance regarding violence and aggression towards staff and will not tolerate such acts.”
Ted Edwards, chair of Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats said: “I was saddened to hear of the verdict. This behaviour was totally out of character for Mick and his work, both in Cardiff and at the Assembly, has always been exemplary.
“Mick had already announced that he was to stand down as our Assembly Member [at the elections] next May.”
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