A COUNCILLOR'S assault conviction has been overturned after a successful appeal.
Reform UK councillor Emma Beck, who represents Thatto Heath ward on St Helens Borough Council, was originally found guilty in January of pushing over a woman in her 60s while working as a door supervisor at Perry's Bar in St Helens town centre.
She was fined £180, ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the victim, and £650 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The incident occurred in the early hours of April 6 last year.
Her conviction did not disqualify her from standing for election, as only custodial sentences of more than three months prevent individuals from becoming councillors.
The conviction was not made public during the election campaign.
After it came to light, a Reform UK spokesman said Cllr Beck was appealing the conviction and the party was awaiting the outcome of the legal process before commenting further.
Cllr Beck’s conviction was quashed on appeal at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, August 21.
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A spokesperson for Reform UK said: "The conviction against councillor Emma Beck, Reform UK member for Thatto Heath, has been quashed on appeal at Liverpool Crown Court on 21 August 2026.
"The councillor had originally been accused of common assault and battery and appealed the guilty finding.
"The panel – consisting of a judge and two magistrates – heard the appeal and decided unanimously that councillor Beck had committed no wrongdoing.
"She continues to serve her ward in Thatto Heath and the residents of St Helens."
Cllr Beck was elected for the ward in May's local elections when Reform swept to power in St Helens.
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