A woman who threw a McDonald’s milkshake over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during the general election campaign must pay him compensation and carry out unpaid community work.
Farage had the drink hurled in his face as he left a JD Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea on 4 June, having just launched his candidacy for the Essex constituency.
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, from Clacton, admitted assault by beating and criminal damage at a previous hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
She has been given a 13-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, must pay the MP £150 compensation, complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £450 in court costs.
Farage was leaving the Moon and Starfish pub on Clacton seafront when he was attacked.
In a statement read to the court, Farage said he “felt humiliated” by the incident and was left fearing for his safety in public.
He added he was “deeply thoughtful for some time afterwards that next time it may not be a milkshake”.
Farage’s security officer, James Woolfenden, also had his suit damaged by the milkshake, to the value of £17.50 and Thomas Bowen was also ordered to pay him compensation for criminal damage.
Thomas Bowen had originally denied the charges and was due to go on trial at the same court in October, but changed her pleas to guilty before proceedings began.
In her interview with police, the defendant said she targeted Farage because she did not agree with his political views.
