A man who threw an egg at Nigel Farage during a campaign visit in Nottingham has been given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs. Frederick Glenister, 33, pleaded guilty to common assault at Nottingham magistrates court on 1 May, when he struck the Ukip leader as he arrived in Wheeler Gate.
The incident caused Farage to abandon a planned walkabout and retreat to a nearby pub. Prosecutor Robert Carr said the politician was shocked but suffered no pain or discomfort. Compensation of £100 was included in the costs order to cover dry-cleaning of Farage's jacket.
Glenister, who had no previous convictions save a caution in 2003, claimed his actions were a political protest. His defence lawyer, Louise Wright, argued that egg-throwing was a British democratic tradition and noted that Labour leader Ed Miliband's attacker was not prosecuted last year.
Wright said Glenister bought eggs from Tesco and joined the crowd, intending to draw media attention away from the campaign and highlight Ukip's 'dangerous policies'. She added that Glenister showed no remorse.
Chairman of the bench Peter Dextor told Glenister the behaviour was unacceptable but noted the offence was an isolated incident with 'less harm and lesser culpability'. The £200 costs included the £100 compensation to the victim.
