A Brexit supporter who shouted “respect the vote” as he struck Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over the head with an egg during a visit to a mosque is facing jail today.

John Murphy, 31, was “contorted in anger” 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 heard Murphy repeating his Brexit-supporting mantra after the attack, which has left him, his family, and staff distressed and worried about his security.

Murphy pleaded guilty today to common assault by beating, but claimed Mr Corbyn had “over-egged” the impact of the attack on March 3.

Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said she is taking the attack “very seriously indeed” as she indicated she is considering jailing Murphy.

“Attacks on MPs must stop, of whatever type, with an egg or in any other way”, said the judge. “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.”

Malik Aldeiri, representing Murphy, told the court: “Mr Murphy 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 that he will argue against a prison sentence: “All public servants, rightly or wrongly, will receive varying degrees of animosity and always have that around them.”

Judge Arbuthnot set Murphy, from Whetstone, north London, free on bail to speak to the probation service. He will either be sentenced this afternoon or at a later date once a full report has been prepared.