Victoria Thomas Bowen admits hurling milkshake over Nigel Farage

A woman who splashed a McDonald's milkshake on Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, during the general election campaign has admitted to the charge of assault by beating.

On June 4, Farage was exiting a pub in Clacton-on-Sea after announcing his candidacy for the Essex district when someone threw a drink at him.

Victoria Thomas Bowen, a 25-year-old from Clacton, had originally pleaded not guilty to the accusation and is scheduled to receive her sentencing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in December.

Farage, elected during the July 4th election, was promoting his campaign at the Moon and Starfish pub along the beach when the incident occurred.

Thomas Bowen also confessed to vandalizing a jacket owned by James Woolfenden, Farage's security officer, resulting in £17.50 worth of damage.

Prior to the start of her planned trial, she altered her pleas for both accusations.

Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram stated, "This was a deliberate and unprovoked assault, specifically aimed at an elected Member of Parliament."

I regard these offenses with utmost seriousness.

"I am looking for a pre-sentence report that will take into account all possible sentencing options."

He postponed the sentencing until December 16.

During a court hearing, Farage expressed in a witness statement, "This situation worried me because I was just doing my job," adding that he made an effort to "engage with the public as much as I could."

"I'm disappointed that this occurred during a public campaign," he expressed.

In a police interview, Thomas Bowen stated that she came across a social media post mentioning that the politician was at the Wetherspoon location that day, as the court was informed.

She informed the officers that she "disagrees with his political beliefs" and chose to take action because "the chance presented itself" when she noticed him exiting the pub.

During her police interview, prosecutor Nishma Shah informed the court: "She admits that this was indeed an assault and that the liquid would have spilled onto his and others' jackets, necessitating cleaning. However, she claims that Nigel has the means to cover the costs."

She says she has no regrets about what she did.

Thomas Bowen informed the police that she did not mean for the paper cup to strike Farage.

Andrew Price, representing the defendant, informed the court that Thomas Bowen had received several threats, and that the situation has significantly affected her.

He mentioned that she had attempted to ignore it and "steer clear of the choice she eventually made."

The lawyer previously requested the court's permission for his client to refrain from reading her statement aloud in front of everyone, stating that there have been "serious threats" related to the case.

Thomas Bowen was released on bail without any conditions before his sentencing.

The term "milkshaking," which refers to the act of splattering public figures with beverages, was officially added to the Collins Dictionary in 2019.

In August, Josh Greally from Clowne in Derbyshire received a suspended sentence for hurling a coffee cup and another object at Mr. Farage during his campaign in Barnsley.

While campaigning in Newcastle in 2019, Mr. Farage had a banana and salted caramel milkshake hurled at him.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston of Essex Police emphasized the importance of upholding democracy, stating that it is crucial for policing to be conducted impartially and without bias.

Just because you don't see eye to eye with someone on political matters doesn't justify resorting to violence or threats.

Public officials and those running for elected positions, just like anyone else in the community, should be able to carry out their activities without worrying about their safety.