Labour MP Eric Joyce today admitted assaulting four people when he went berserk in a House of Commons bar.

The 51-year-old former soldier headbutted Conservative MP Stuart Andrew shortly before closing time at the Strangers Bar.

He also attacked Tory councillors Luke Mackenzie and Ben Maney before turning on Labour whip Phillip Wilson.

Joyce, who has been suspended from the Labour Party in the wake of the incident on February 22, pleaded guilty to common assault on the three Tories and the more serious charge of common assault by beating in the case of Mr Wilson.

He was fined £3000 and ordered to pay £1400 to his victims at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Joyce was also given a 12 month community order - banning him from entering pubs and licensed premises for three months - and imposed with a curfew order from Friday to Sunday.

The court heard he told police "You can't touch me, I'm an MP". He also called officers "c****" after going berserk.

The politician - who accepted he was "hammered" during the brawl - expressed his "shame and embarrassment" through his barrister, Jeremy Dein QC. "He is unreservedly apologetic for what occurred on the night in question," Mr Dein said.

The 51-year-old accepted that the fact that he was drinking was not an excuse "for the dreadful scenario that unfolded".

Joyce launched into a frenzied attack after shouting that the Strangers' Bar "was full of f****** Tories". Having attacked two MPs and two councillors he then wrote in a police officer's notebook: "We are a Tory nation, that cannot be forever... good cops unite."

Witnesses to the brawl said "he was very angry, drunk, angrier than anyone", prosecutor Zoe Martin told the court. One onlooker said his "eyes looked like nobody was home" while another said his "eyes looked dead".

Violence flared after the £65,000-a-year MP for Falkirk started singing "very loudly", drinkers said.

Joyce, while sobering up in the cells. told police of one of his victims: "I think he was a silly fat Tory MP. He was pushing like a girl and giving me a bearhug."

A barman had told officers there was a "happy and friendly" atmosphere before Joyce "flipped" on February 22.

Prosecutor Ms Martin said: "Mr Joyce started to sing very loudly... that was noticed by several people in the bar. Nobody seemed bothered by it."

Joyce then approached Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke, saying: "Don't look at any of my guests like that again." MP Andrew Percy walked past and asked Joyce to move.

Joyce replied: "No, you f****** can't", Ms Martin said. Witnesses said Joyce then shouted: "There are too many Tories in this bar" and later: "The bar was full of f****** Tories."

Mr Andrews protested, saying: "You can't behave in that way" before Joyce launched into a string of attacks.

Chief magistrate Howard Riddle told Joyce: "What you have done has not only brought physical harm (and) shame on yourself... but it has also damaged the place where you work, the place where laws are made."

He took into account Joyce's previous conviction for drink- driving but gave the defendant credit for his early pleas.

Speaking afterwards, Joyce said he was "deeply apologetic" for his actions. Outside court, he said: "Clearly it's a matter of considerable personal shame.

"I've been duly punished today. I've been lucky to avoid prison. I'm very ashamed, of course."

He said he wanted to apologise to a "long list" of people he had let down, including his constituents and fellow MPs. But he said he did not intend to stand down as an MP before the next election.

"It would be easy but I was elected in 2000 and I will continue serving," he said.

Asked if he thought he had a problem with alcohol, he told reporters: "I think drink was an aggravating factor, that's something I have to deal with personally. Not everyone who drinks gets involved in fights."

Labour Party sources had indicated that any decision on Joyce's future in the party would not be made until after he was sentenced. A spokesman said: "Eric Joyce was immediately suspended. There will be a full party investigation pending the end of the legal process."

Joyce's guilty plea does not necessarily mark an end to his career as an MP. Under the Representation of the People Act 1981, MPs are disqualified from the House of Commons only if they are convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to 12 months or more in jail.

Joyce has already said that he will stand down from Parliament at the next general election, expected in 2015.