Victoria Thomas-Bowen, the 32-year-old woman who infamously threw a milkshake at Nigel Farage during the 2019 European Parliament election campaign, has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service.
Thomas-Bowen pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court. She was also ordered to pay £350 in compensation to Farage and £200 in court costs.
The incident occurred on May 20, 2019, while Farage was campaigning for the Brexit Party in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. Thomas-Bowen approached Farage and threw a £5.25 Five Guys milkshake at him, covering him in the creamy liquid.
Farage was left shaken but uninjured, and later described the attack as “a cowardly and violent act”. He also criticized the police for not taking stronger action against Thomas-Bowen.
District Judge Timothy King, who presided over the case, told Thomas-Bowen that her actions were “wholly unacceptable” and that she had shown “a complete disregard for the law”. However, he also acknowledged that Thomas-Bowen had shown remorse for her actions and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Thomas-Bowen’s defense team argued that she had been suffering from mental health issues at the time of the attack and that she had been provoked by Farage’s “inflammatory” rhetoric.
Farage responded to the sentence on social media, stating that he was “disappointed but not surprised” by the leniency of the sentence. He also reiterated his call for tougher laws to protect politicians and public figures from violent attacks.
The incident highlights the growing concern about the safety and security of politicians and public figures, particularly in the face of increasing polarization and extremism.
