Labour MP Jess Phillips says she "asked for leniency" for a man fined for kicking the door of her constituency office because she wants to "sit down and talk" with him.

Michael Roby, 36, was fined £40 at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The court heard Roby, of Vimy Road, Billesley, Birmingham, was "hyper" when arrested on 26 September after shouting "Is this the fascist party offices?" and "Why are you blocking democracy?" outside Mrs Phillips' office.

Image: Michael Roby was arrested after kicking the front door of the MP's office

Staff alerted police at about 2.30pm that a man was outside "calling everyone fascists" and that they had turned off an intercom.

The front door of the office in Acocks Green, Birmingham, was also kicked with force, although no damage was caused, the court heard.


Commenting on Roby's sentence on Thursday, Mrs Phillips posted on Twitter: "I asked for leniency because I want to meet him, I want to hear what he has to say, so I requested leniency so we could sit down and talk.

"This man is the same age as me, grew up streets away from me, I know people who know him. I do not believe we cannot find common ground.

"If you believe in speaking up and challenging views that also means you have to believe it when others want to do it to you.

"Aggression and alarm are not the way to do that but I'd be a hypocrite if I wasn't willing to try to listen."

Roby, who spoke in court only to plead guilty and confirm his address and other personal details, was also ordered to pay £135 in court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

During a subsequent interview, the warehouse worker told police he was annoyed with Mrs Phillips' political views and became angry and banged the door with his fist because it was shut.

His lawyer told the court Roby had lost his job, was remorseful for his actions and suffered from depression and anxiety amid concerns he had mental ill health following a breakdown.

Following Thursday's hearing, Roby referred to himself as working class, made reference to "the 51%" and shouted at reporters: "I have stood up for democracy. Look what happened to me. I got sent to court."

The 26 September incident, which Mrs Phillips said at the time left her feeling "jumpy and worried and frightened", came the day after a heated Brexit debate in the House of Commons.

During that debate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was criticised by MPs for the tone of his language, as he repeatedly referred to legislation seeking to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October as the "Surrender Act".

He also caused controversy by saying the "best way" to honour murdered MP Jo Cox was to "get Brexit done".