Victoria Thomas Bowen sentenced for Nigel Farage milkshake attack
Woman Sentenced For Throwing Milkshake At Farage
Photo credit: Getty Images
Nigel Farage was departing from the Moon and Starfish pub in Clacton-on-Sea when he was assaulted.
A woman who splashed a McDonald's milkshake on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during the general election campaign has received a suspended jail sentence.
Victoria Thomas Bowen threw her drink at Farage as he exited a JD Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea on June 4, right after he announced his candidacy for the Essex constituency.
Thomas Bowen received a 13-week jail term, which has been suspended for a period of 12 months. He is also required to pay an MP £150 in compensation, complete 120 hours of community service, and cover court costs amounting to £450.
After her sentencing, Farage took to social media to express, "We are now in a nation where it's possible to attack a Member of Parliament and avoid jail time."
Thomas Bowen, 25, hailing from Clacton, acknowledged his guilt in a prior court session for charges of assault and damage to property.
She confronted Farage as he was exiting the Moon and Starfish pub along the Clacton seafront.
Video: Nigel Farage has a drink splashed on him while at Clacton seafront.
During the sentencing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, prosecutors shared a statement from Farage, in which he expressed that he felt "humiliated" and worried about his safety when out in public.
He mentioned that he thought a lot about it afterward, considering that next time it could be something other than a milkshake.
The prosecuting attorney, Nishma Shah, informed the court that following her arrest, Thomas Bowen mentioned to the police that she "didn't share his [Farage's] political opinions" and that she "had the chance" to face him.
Ms. Shah mentioned that the woman informed the officers that she felt no remorse for what she had done.
James Woolfenden, the security guard for Farage, had his suit ruined by the milkshake. Additionally, Thomas Bowen was required to compensate him with £17.50 for the damage caused.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram informed the defendant that she is required to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and fulfill 15 days of rehabilitation activities.
Thomas Bowen, an OnlyFans model, initially refuted the allegations against him and was scheduled to stand trial at the same court in October. However, he decided to plead guilty before the trial proceedings got underway.
Farage was running in the constituency for the first time and successfully claimed the seat, achieving a significant shift in votes from the Conservatives' Giles Watling, who had a majority of 24,702 in 2019.
On July 4, Farage won by a margin of 8,405 votes, marking his eighth effort to get elected to the House of Commons.
Image source: PA Media
According to her attorney, Victoria Thomas Bowen has experienced numerous threats following the incident.
Thomas Bowen's lawyer, Zarif Khan, informed the court that there is "some indication of mental health problems" in his argument.
He remarked that the young woman's response was quite naive and foolish, especially considering she was experiencing some personal difficulties at the time.
After the sentencing, the defendant's attorney, Caroline Liggins, stated, "Since this incident occurred, she has faced numerous threats that have greatly affected her mental well-being."
Victoria realizes how her actions have affected others and wants to move on from the entire situation. She wishes that others can also find a way to do the same.
The judge described the incident as a "deliberate and unprovoked assault" that was "shameful and occurred right in front of the cameras."
He also stated, "I can see that, regardless of your current statements, at the time, you felt no remorse about criticizing the now-elected Member of Parliament."
"Over the past few months, I've encountered multiple instances of illegal assaults on politicians, both in the digital space and in real life."
"This is a troubling development."
He went on to say, "In my view, this wasn't merely an assault on him personally; it was an assault on our system of parliamentary democracy."
The dangers of meeting in person with the public are evident, especially considering the recent killings of two other Members of Parliament.
In 2021, Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West, was fatally stabbed during a meeting with constituents. Similarly, in 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was both shot and stabbed in her electoral district of Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire.
Picture credit: PA Media
Nigel Farage, who was seen holding a milkshake later that day in the nearby area of Jaywick, stated in court that he felt embarrassed by what happened.
In August, Josh Greally from Clowne in Derbyshire received a suspended sentence for hurling a coffee cup and another object at Farage during his campaign in Barnsley.
While campaigning in Newcastle back in 2019, the ex-leader of UKIP and Member of the European Parliament had a banana and salted caramel milkshake hurled at him.
The term "milkshaking," referring to the practice of splattering public figures with milkshakes, was officially added to the Collins Dictionary in 2019.
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