The MP who was convicted of headbutting another politician in a House of Commons bar has been fined £600 after he removed his electronic tag, so he could take part in a parliamentary boat race.

Falkirk MP Eric Joyce appeared in Stirling Sheriff Court yesterday after breaching the 12-month community order imposed following the fight in February.

The race between MPs and peers took place on 4 July, with Joyce tweeting: "Lords v Commons rowing about to start. Let's hope all that extensive training pays off."


Eric Joyce MP
Lords v Commons rowing about to start. Let's hope all that extensive training pays off...

Sentencing him, Sheriff John Halley told the Falkirk MP: “You took it upon ­yourself to remove the tag, which you were required to wear.

“You’re recorded as saying that you cut it off to stop your ­photograph being taken for the charity event.

“It’s not for you or any other person under a court order to decide to refuse to comply with the court order.

“You made a clear decision to breach the order. It’s not a reasonable excuse.”

Joyce resigned from the Labour Party following his conviction and apologised "without reservation" for his violent conduct during a drunken frenzy in the Palace of Westminster bar.

Joyce admitted attacking four people in Parliament's Strangers Bar in February, including headbutting Tory MP Stewart Andrew.

Unfortunately for Joyce his £600 fine was not balanced out by victory in the water, as the Lords beat the Commons in the rowing race.