This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A Brexit supporter who attacked Jeremy Corbyn with an egg during a mosque visit while yelling “respect the vote” has admitted an assault charge and been sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment.

John Murphy, hit the Labour leader in the head with the egg during the visit to Finsbury Park mosque and Muslim Welfare House in his north London constituency as part of the annual Visit My Mosque Day initiative.

Corbyn was not hurt in the incident and continued with the tour alongside Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary. The Labour leader had left the room to wash himself when he realised he had been struck by an egg.

Corbyn said he was “shocked and surprised” by the attack, which prompted his team to work on increasing his security, Westminster magistrates court heard on Monday.

Murphy, 31, pleaded guilty to an assault by beating charge. He was arrested soon after the incident on 3 March

Kevin Christie, prosecuting, said: “As he [Corbyn] was struck he heard a male voice shouting: ‘Respect the vote.’”

Corbyn had taken off his shoes and sat down next to his wife, Laura Alvarez, and a group of people who seemed to be “in great spirits”, the court heard. “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,” Christie said.

Murphy, of Barnet in north-west London, was told by the chief magistrate, Emma Arbuthnot, as she sentenced him: “An attack like this is an attack on our democratic process.”

She said: “This is a public servant and attacks on MPs must stop. The message must go out – this must stop.”

Corbyn noted Murphy’s face was “contorted” with rage and he appeared “very aggressive”.

In a victim impact statement read to court, Corbyn said: “I was shocked and surprised when the assault occurred as I have always felt safe and secure at the Muslim Welfare House. The assault was completely unprovoked and threatening.

“Whilst I’m determined to make sure I’m able to interact with people as I always have, I now have to be more cautious. I feel these kinds of attacks drive a wedge between elected representatives and those who elected them in the first place. We are now reviewing and increasing my security protection.”

Malik Aldeiri, defending, said Corbyn’s statement was “slightly over-egged in the sense that Mr Corbyn himself hasn’t suffered any impact”, with the main concerns being from his family.

Murphy was bailed until later in the day when he may be sentenced.

The attack on Corbyn came a week after the party announced it would support a second referendum.

Finsbury Park mosque was close to the scene of a terrorist attack in June 2017 in which Darren Osborne, who had been radicalised by far-right anti-Muslim content on the internet, drove a rented van at a group of worshippers who were standing on the pavement, killing one man, Makram Ali, and injuring others.

Concerns about potential attacks on politicians have been heightened since the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox by the far-right terrorist Thomas Mair in 2016 in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

The Labour MP Jess Phillips had tweeted after the incident involving Corbyn: “Acts of violence against politicians loses your argument, lessens your cause and demeans our democracy.

“It’s also just horrid. Don’t do it. If you don’t agree with him raise your voice not your fists.”