Journalism students at the University of Bedfordshire scooped an interview with disgraced MP Eric Joyce after he pleaded guilty to four charges of assault at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

According to the journalism department, students used a contact close to the Falkirk MP to secure the interview which has since been carried by the Press Association, the Huffington Post, the Daily Mirror online and in part by the Daily Mail.

The Labour MP avoided jail but was fined and banned from pubs for three months after he admitted drunkenly assaulting fellow MPs in a House of Commons bar on 22 February (BBC).

According to course leader Kate Ironside Joyce had been unsure about the interview, but confirmed on Friday and the students drove him from court to the university campus in Luton.