The MP for Shepton Mallet has called for victims of crime to receive greater protection when their case comes to court after one of her constituents was brutally attacked.

Tessa Munt was elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills at the general election in July, replacing her Conservative predecessor James Heappey.

Ms Munt – who previously represented the Wells constituency between 2010 and 2015 – has demanded a debate on victim protection, detailing an incident in which an unnamed constituent was attacked "in broad daylight… by a man who is well known to the police."

The government said that it would address such cases as part of its Victims and Sentencing Bill, which will shortly received its first reading in parliament.

Speaking in the House of Commons on October 24, Ms Munt said: "In broad daylight, in a public place, my constituent was attacked by a man who is well known to the police.

"When he realised that he was being videoed and the police were being called, he lashed out and threatened to find my constituent, slit his throat and burn his house down.

"Early police advice was that my constituent's name need never be disclosed, but now Avon and Somerset Constabulary say that his full name will have to be disclosed in court.

"He does not want to expose his family to the threats that were made. The case will collapse without the protection of anonymity for victims.

"Can we have a debate on offering greater public protection to victims in court, thereby bolstering public confidence in policing and our courts system?"

Victims of rape and sexual abuse are automatically guaranteed lifelong anonymity under the Sexual Offences Act 1992 – though victims can choose to waive their anonymity in writing to raise public awareness.

Victims of other crimes, such as assault or GBH, are not automatically accorded anonymity, with Ms Munt arguing there would be "a parallel case made" to protect people in these situations.

Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell MP said the government would address victim anonymity and similar protections as part of forthcoming legislation.

Ms Powell (who represents the Manchester Central constituency) said: "This sounds like a horrific incident in the honourable member's constituency.

"I am really sorry to hear of it, and I hope that she will pass on our best to her constituents.

"These issues have been raised many times, and we have had many debates on them.

"The government is committed to introducing a Victims and Sentencing Bill in this session, wherein the issue of anonymity for victims will be widely discussed."