An OnlyFans model who threw a milkshake in the face of UK reform leader Nigel Farage has been spared jail.
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, threw the drink at MP outside a pub in Clacton-on-Sea during the general election campaign on June 4.
Dramatic footage showed the mother-of-one throwing the contents of a McDonald’s cup at Mr Farage, hitting him square in the face.
Wearing large black sunglasses and a gray dress, Thomas Bowen pointed two fingers at photographers as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Thomas Bowen was sentenced to 13 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, after admitting assault by beating in October.
The model also admitted criminal damage after causing £17.50 worth of damage to a jacket belonging to Mr Farage’s security officer James Woolfenden.
Farage, now MP for Clacton, was drenched as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in the Essex seaside town.
In a victim impact statement read by prosecutors, the MP said after the incident that he “felt humiliated” that it had been “broadcast on national and international media.”
Victoria Thomas Bowen has been sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to 13 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months after admitting assault.
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, threw the drink at the MP outside a pub in Clacton-on-Sea during the general election campaign.
It hit him squarely in the face, though he simply wiped his eyes and continued.
Thomas Bowen films his X-rated music videos in the guest bedroom of his mother’s £260,000 home in Grays.
He added that he had been “deeply thinking for some time that next time it wouldn’t be a milkshake” and said the incident is part of “a growing concern about safety.”
The model was arrested shortly after the incident and told police in an interview that she saw an online post announcing Mr Farage’s attendance that day, the court heard.
She told officers she “disagrees with his political views.”
Farage had previously addressed supporters at a rally during the election campaign and was left with the yellow liquid splattered on his dark blue suit.
Thomas Bowen had originally denied the charges, but changed his plea to guilty before the trial began.
In addition to his suspended sentence, he was also ordered to complete 12 days of rehabilitation activity, 120 hours of unpaid work and pay Mr Farage £150 compensation, £17.50 criminal damage compensation, £154 surcharge to the victim and £450 in compensation. costs.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum, including Labour’s Yvette Cooper, who called it a “disgrace” and “completely unacceptable and wrong”.
Thomas Bowen, who films his
Victoria Thomas-Bowen pictured after being charged with criminal damage and assault in June
Thomas Bowen, who studied law, maths, sociology and business at university, has been involved in politics since the age of 15 and has “hated” Farage since his Brexit campaign.
“He doesn’t represent me,” added the self-described “little blonde pocket rocket.” “He doesn’t represent anything I believe in, or any of the people around here. He doesn’t represent us, he’s not from here.
She later posted a photo of herself wearing only underwear and sports socks in a provocative pose, along with a link to her Onlyfans website and lyrics to the song Milkshake.
Farage said in his victim impact statement read to the court: “Immediately after the incident I felt humiliated. It was broadcast on national television and watched by many people. For a while I was deeply thinking that next time I might not It was a smoothie.
“This incident is part of a growing concern about my safety in public.”
Zarif Khan, defending Thomas Bowen, said: “She has admitted that what she did that day was wrong. The court has to weigh all that up and decide that it is right to send a young woman to prison given her background.
‘There is also an assessment to be made and consideration of the overall fairness of this case.
‘The fact is that people have undiagnosed problems for many years. He suffers from ADHD and anxiety.
‘The amount of harassment he has faced. Death and rape threats. They have yelled at him in the street.
‘This was a naive and stupid reaction on the part of this young woman at a time when she was going through personal distress.
Viewers were left shocked by the dramatic events in Clacton.
Farage made light of the episode and bought a round of banana milkshakes for the photographers.
‘There are other ways to deal with people. Other ways that are available and, in my opinion, are more effective.
“It can be considered a deterrent. Simply sending people to prison is not the only way to deter people.
“She has a family that continues to support her. Those online threats continue. You must follow the report’s recommendations. If you are still against me, I will continue.”
District Judge Tan Ikram sentenced her to 13 weeks in jail suspended for 12 months.
He said: ‘You have to look at the impact it has had on the victim. Many people feel guilty when passing sentence.
‘You want yourself as a social media content creator. He earns £2,500 a month and appears to be in considerable debt.
“The victim in this case, Mr Farage, was campaigning that day. He describes a container and a liquid substance hitting his face.
‘This was humiliating and in the glare of the cameras. The video has had wide distribution. At that point, a witness said you shouted ‘you fucking bastard or something similar’.
‘In your pre-sentence report you say you have mental health problems. No evidence has been presented.
In 2019, Farage was hit with a banana milkshake while beating the Brexit Party drum.
‘This was and is an unprovoked targeted attack. It is clear to me that at that time you did not at all regret not agreeing with his political opinions.
‘Your solicitor has very ably mitigated on your behalf and you have declared to the probation officer that you regret it.
‘The facts in this case suggest otherwise. He only changed his statement on the day of the trial, when the witnesses came to testify.
«In this case there are important aggravating factors. It was an attack on a parliamentary candidate who was campaigning for the elections. In my opinion, this was an attack on our parliamentary democracy.
‘The risks of a face-to-face engagement are all too clear given the murders of two other parliamentary candidates in recent years.
‘A clear message must be spread. The parliamentary debate should not be stopped by criminality like this.
‘In this case it has been said that the risk of a new conviction is low. It is suggested that there is a real chance of rehabilitation if an immediate custodial sentence is not imposed.
“I have thought a lot about whether I can suspend the sentence.”
At the time of the incident, Farage told ITV: “I don’t know what was thrown at me, but it hit me fairly in the face.” Pretty scary.
He went on to say that he believes they keep throwing the dairy drink at him because he goes out “to meet the public and no one else does.”
The incident had echoes of 2019, when he was the victim of a similar stunt in Newcastle.
Thomas-Bowen, who studied law, maths, sociology and business at university, has been involved in politics since the age of 15 and has “hated” Farage since his Brexit campaign.
Speaking to The Sun, she says that once she heard he was visiting her hometown, she knew she wanted to go see him and hear what he had to say.
“I have never agreed with his views on immigration or his approach to women,” she said.
“I hadn’t had any breakfast and was feeling pretty dizzy, so I stopped at McDonalds on the way to the pier and had a banana shake.”
Thomas-Bowen had to elbow his way through the crowd to throw the drink at Mr Farage as he walked down the stairs.