A woman who threw a milkshake over Nigel Farage during the general election campaign has been handed a 13-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation, and to pay £150 in compensation to the Clacton MP.
The incident occurred on 4 June outside the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon’s pub in Clacton-on-Sea, where Farage was launching his parliamentary campaign for the Reform UK party. Thomas Bowen, an OnlyFans model, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage after the milkshake also splattered a jacket worn by Farage’s security guard, James Woolfenden.
During sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram described the attack as “humiliating” and “an attack on our parliamentary democracy”. He stated: “A clear message must go out. Public debate must not be shut down by criminality such as this.”
In a victim impact statement, Farage said he felt “humiliated” and noted the assault was broadcast globally. He expressed concern that such incidents could deter people from standing for public office, calling them “bad for our democracy”.
The court heard that Thomas Bowen had seen a social media post about Farage’s location and bought a McDonald’s milkshake before throwing it at him. She told police she “didn’t agree with his views” and did not regret her actions. She initially denied the charges but changed her plea to guilty in late October.
