A newly elected Reform UK MP was once jailed for attacking a former girlfriend, MailOnline can reveal.
James McMurdock pleaded guilty to one charge of assault at Chelmsford Crown Court after initially denying any wrongdoing.
McMurdock, 38, was elected MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock by just 98 votes last week after a nail-biting recount on Friday – which saw him join Nigel Farage as one of the new party’s team of five in Westminster.
But now it has emerged that the merchant banker from Essex has a violent past that left a former girlfriend with both injuries and lasting mental scars.
McMurdock, who was working as a barman at the time – almost 20 years ago – launched the attack on his victim outside a nightclub during an alcohol-fuelled night out in Chelmsford.
McMurdock pictured with Nigel Farage. The newly elected Reform UK MP was once jailed for attacking a former girlfriend
Reform UK MP McMurdock (furthest right) pictured arriving at the House of Commons with (L-R), Lee Anderson, Nigel Farage, Rupert Lowe and Richard Tice
The attack was brought to a halt by two doorman who pulled him off and called the police.
McMurdock was arrested and charged with assault.
At first he denied the assault – forcing his victim and witnesses to give statements to the police – before eventually admitting the offence as he was about to go on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
McMurdock was sentenced to a short prison term.
A former acquaintance said: ‘I’ve got no idea what they were arguing about. And to be fair I’m pretty sure nor does he. There was a lot of alcohol involved.
‘He told everyone he hadn’t done anything and pleaded not guilty until right at the last moment before the trial when he pleaded guilty.
‘After that he disappeared. No one around here ever saw him again.’
His former girlfriend, who has since married and, is now a mother-of-two, declined to comment on the horrific attack.
But her mother told of her disbelief that McMurdock has been elected to parliament.
She told MailOnline: ‘McMurdock is a monster. He left marks on her body.
‘It took two security guards to pull him off her.
‘There is no way he should be an MP in the House of Commons representing people.’
McMurdock is now a married father-of-four and lives in a smart, four-bedroom, detached house in South Ockendon, Essex.
McMurdock pictured on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault at Chelmsford Crown Court after initially denying any wrongdoing
He resigned from a well-paid job at City of London bank Standard Chartered when he was elected to parliament.
Reform UK has confirmed McMurdock was jailed for assaulting a former girlfriend, but disputed the details of the attack.
The MP himself described the incident as ‘the biggest regret of my life’.
In a statement, he said: ‘While I absolutely deny the horrific details in this tale, there is one truth in it that I cannot, nor will not deny or hide from.
‘A generous person might call it a teenage indiscretion, but I do not expect everyone to be so kind.
‘Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued and I pushed her.
‘She fell over and she was hurt. Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed of that moment and apologetic.
‘Despite us both being very drunk, I handed myself into the police immediately and admitted my fault.
‘I was charged for what I did, not for what has been claimed, and I faced the consequences then and paid for my action in full.
‘This is the biggest regret of my life and I wish I could go back in time and fix things.’
When asked if Reform UK was aware that McMurdock had a conviction that resulted in a jail sentence before he was adopted as a prospective parliamentary candidate, a Reform UK spokesman replied: ‘Yes. Reform UK was aware of James McMurdock’s previous conviction and jail sentence.
The spokesman went on to say that reporting the attack and McMurdock’s prison sentence was a breach of his privacy.
They added that Reform UK ‘believes strongly that people can change their lives.’
‘Mr McMurdock absolutely rejects allegations that he either kicked, stamped or punched the victim, though he accepts that he pushed her, she fell and was injured.
McMurdock (pictured, right, on July 6) was elected MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock last week which saw him join Mr Farage as one of the new party’s team of five in Westminster
Reform UK has confirmed McMurdock was jailed for assaulting a former girlfriend, but disputed the details of the attack
‘He handed himself in, and pleaded guilty to Common Assault, about which he continues to be deeply ashamed.
‘Reform UK believes strongly that people can change their lives. The young Essex teenager of 20 years ago is one that learned from that mistake and has become a role model for his peers. Happily married hard working and grounded.
‘Mr McMurdock was entirely honest with us when he applied to become our candidate for his hometown and his life shows that one can change, for the better.’
