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5 months ago
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The 25-year-old woman who threw a drink in Nigel Farage's face at an election rally in Clacton, Essex, was today charged with assault.
Victoria Thomas-Bowen was arrested at Clacton pier shortly after she drenched the new Reform UK leader with a banana milkshake.
The OnlyFans model struck as Mr Farage stepped out of a Wetherspoons pub in the seaside town.
Thomas-Bowen was arrested on suspicion of assault, taken into custody in Clacton but later released under police investigation.
And today the 25-year-old was charged with assault and criminal damage, Essex Police announced.
Nigel Farage had milkshake thrown over him during an election rally in Clacton, Essex, yesterday
Victoria Thomas-Bowen pictured today after she was charged with criminal damage and assault
Police also said that no further action was taking place in relation to a man who was arrested at the same time on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
They stated: 'A woman is due to appear in court following an incident Clacton.
'Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 2 July to answer charges of assault by beating and criminal damage.
'The charges relate to an incident in which a drink was thrown at a man in the area of Marine Parade East, Clacton, at around 2.10pm on Tuesday 4 June.
'A 44-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker has been released and will face no further action.'
The incident led to wide condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour's Yvette Cooper who called it a 'disgrace' and 'completely unacceptable and wrong'.
Reacting to the incident, Mr Farage told ITV yesterday: 'I don't know what was thrown at me but it hit me in the face fair and square. Quite frightening.'
He went on to say he thinks he keeps having the dairy drink thrown at him because he goes 'out to meet the public and nobody else does'.
The OnlyFans model, 25, was snapped in Clacton. She was yesterday arrested at the seaside town's pier
Thomas-Bowen will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on July 2nd to answer the charges
The OnlyFans model struck as Mr Farage stepped out of a Wetherspoons pub in the seaside town
Mr Farage was flanked as usual by burly security as he left a pub, but they could do nothing as the contents of what appeared to be a McDonald's cup is flung towards him
It caught him full in the face, although he merely wiped his eyes and continued
The incident has echoes of 2019, when he fell victim to a similar stunt in Newcastle.
Home Secretary James Cleverly led condemnation of the attack, saying it was 'unacceptable' against any politician. Reform allies branded the assailant a 'juvenile moron' and said it would only boost their support.
It came after the Brexit champion told a huge crowd of local voters the Tories had 'betrayed' their trust and warned Rishi Sunak would pay a 'big price' at the general election on 4 July.
Shouts from the crowd included 'get 'em Nige' and 'we love you Nigel' as huge numbers of Mr Farage's supporters gathered near Clacton pier.
Mr Farage's campaign launch in the Essex seat came after he yesterday performed a stunning U-turn on his previous decision not to stand for Parliament.
The 60-year-old has made a dramatic return to the political frontline and also been installed as Reform UK leader in place of Richard Tice.
In 2019 Mr Farage was hit with a banana milkshake while banging the drum for the Brexit Party. His assailant was later ordered to carry out community work and pay £350 in compensation.
Richard Tice, Mr Farage's predecessor as Reform UK leader, said the milkshake incident had just gained us hundreds of thousands more votes.
'We will not be bullied or threatened off the campaign trail,' he said.
Mr Farage's campaign in Clacton - a constituency once held by Ukip when he was the party's leader - will be his eighth attempt to enter Westminster.
He will need to overturn a 31,000 Conservative majority from the last election with only minor boundary changes in the seat.
Mr Farage made light of the episode, buying a round of banana milkshakes for the snappers
Mr Farage hailed Clacton-on-Sea as the 'most patriotic' part of Britain as he launched his bid to become the seaside town's new MP
The Reform UK leader was mobbed by his supporters as huge numbers gathered near Clacton pier
Shouts from the crowd included 'get 'em Nige' and 'we love you Nigel' as the veteran eurosceptic launched his latest bid to enter Parliament
The Brexit champion told local voters the Tories had 'betrayed' their trust and warned PM Rishi Sunak he would pay a 'big price' at the general election on 4 July
His campaign launch in the Essex seat came after Mr Farage performed a stunning U-turn on his previous decision not to stand for Parliament
However, Tories have been sounding gloomy about their prospects and pollsters believe Mr Farage is in with a strong chance.
Grumbling has been surfacing about Rishi Sunak's failure to head off the threat of Mr Farage standing, with suggestions he should have been given a peerage before.
As he launched his campaign at the Moon and Starfish this afternoon, Mr Farage made reference to the town's past support for Ukip when it elected Tory defector Douglas Carswell as the local MP.
He said: 'Without Clacton, Brexit would not have happened - so thank you Clacton!'
Mr Farage vowed to be a 'bloody nuisance' in the House of Commons should he be elected in a month's time.
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