Victoria Thomas Bowen avoids jail after throwing milkshake at Nigel Farage in Clacton during election campaign
A woman has avoided jail after throwing a milkshake at Nigel Farage during his general election campaign in Clacton-on-Sea.
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was sentenced to 13 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.
She hurled the drink at the Reform UK MP, 60, as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in the Essex town on 4 June.
She pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage at Westminster Magistrates Court on 21 October, where deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram also handed down her sentence on Monday.
Thomas Bowen, who is an OnlyFans model, was arrested shortly after the incident. She told police she saw a post online advertising Mr Farage’s rally in her hometown that day, the court heard previously.
She told officers she “does not agree with his political views” and when she saw him leaving the pub, decided to act because she “had the opportunity”.
The criminal damage to the jacket Mr Farage’s security officer James Woolfenden was wearing amounted to £17.50, the court was told.
Thomas Bowen was ordered to pay Mr Woolfenden the £17.50 compensation, as well as £154 in a victim surcharge to Mr Farage and £450 in costs.
She will also have to complete 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Bowen throws a milkshake over Nigel Farage in Clacton-on-Sea.
Pic: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
In a statement after the sentencing hearing, Thomas Bowen said she has received “multiple threats” since the incident.
Speaking on her behalf, Caroline Liggins, criminal defence lawyer at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “Our client entered a guilty plea because she understands the gravity of the situation in which her impulsive decision has placed her.
“We are relieved the court has taken a sensible approach in dealing with this young woman by handing down a suspended sentence.
“She has suffered multiple threats since this happened, which have had a serious impact on her mental health.
“Victoria understands the impact of her actions and wishes to put the whole episode behind her. She hopes others can do the same.”
Victoria Thomas Bowen leaves court after being sentenced on Monday. Pic: PA
Farage ‘felt humiliated’
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Farage said he “felt humiliated” by the incident as it was “broadcast on national and international media”.
He added that he was “deeply thoughtful for some time afterwards that next time it may not be a milkshake” and said the incident is part of “a growing security concern”.
“I’m saddened that this has happened at a public campaign,” he added.
Mr Farage, who is now the leader of his party, went on to win the Clacton-on-Sea seat from the Conservative incumbent Giles Watling.
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Nigel Farage has successfully exploited the Commons recess to “grab the mic” and “dominate” the agenda, Harriet Harman has said.
Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the Labour peer said that the Reform UK leader has been able to “get his voice heard” while government was not in “full swing”.
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Mr Farage used a speech this week to set himself, rather than Kemi Badenoch’s Tories, up as the main opposition to Sir Keir Starmer at the next election.
The prime minister responded on Thursday with a speech attacking the Clacton MP.
Baroness Harman said: “It’s slightly different between opposition and government because in government, the ministers have to be there the whole time.
“They’ve got to be putting legislation through and they kind of hold the mic.
“They can dominate the news media with the announcements they’re making and with the bills they’re introducing, and it’s quite hard for the opposition to get a hearing whilst the government is in full swing.
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‘Big cuts’ to fund other Reform UK policies
“What we used to do when we were in opposition before 1997 is that as soon as there was a bank holiday and the House was not sitting, as soon as the half-term or the summer recess, we would be on an absolute war footing and dominate the airwaves because that was our opportunity.
“And I think that’s a bit of what Farage has done this week,” Harman added.
“Basically, Farage can dominate the media agenda.”
She went on: “He’s kind of stepped forward, and he’s using this moment of the House not sitting in order to actually get his voice heard.
“It’s sensible for the opposition to take the opportunity of when the House is not sitting to kind of grab the mic and that is what Nigel Farage has done.”
But Baroness Harman said it “doesn’t seem to be what Kemi Badenoch’s doing”.
She explained that the embattled leader “doesn’t seem to be grabbing the mic like Nigel Farage has” during recess, and added that “there’s greater opportunity for the opposition”.
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