A former MP has warned that the decision not to jail a woman who threw a milkshake at Nigel Farage will encourage others seeking publicity.
Speaking on GB News, Stephen Pound said: “What really infuriates me is this has shown the green light to any self-publicist.”
“They see this as a way to get a few bob and get their name in the papers,” he added.
The comments follow the suspended sentence given to Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, who assaulted the Reform UK leader during his election campaign in Clacton-on-Sea.
Stephen Pound hit out at the decision on GB News
GB NEWS
Pound described the incident as “celebrity assault”, calling it “outrageous.”
The OnlyFans model threw a banana milkshake over Nigel outside the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon’s pub in June.
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The matter was discussed on GB News
GB NEWS
Thomas Bowen was handed a 13-week suspended prison sentence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
She was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £871.50 in costs and compensation.
In a victim impact statement, the GB News star said he “felt humiliated” with the incident “broadcast on national and international media”.
The court heard Thomas Bowen had seen a post advertising his visit to the Essex seaside town online and told police she “does not agree with his political views.”
The case has drawn comparisons to a similar incident five years ago when John Murphy hit then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with an egg.
Murphy received a 28-day prison sentence for his attack, during which he shouted “Respect the vote!”
The disparity in sentencing has led to accusations of “two-tier justice” from Nigel.
Speaking after Thomas Bowen’s sentencing, Pound said: “This stinks on two levels. Proportionality is out of the window.”
“The reality is, one person goes to prison for 28 days and the other doesn’t even get a slap on the wrist,” he added.
Pound suggested the incident would ultimately benefit Nigel politically, stating: “Farage will garner sympathy from this in the same way he did from the Coutts debacle.”
District Judge Tan Ikram had emphasised the seriousness of the attack during sentencing.
“This was an attack on a parliamentary candidate campaigning for election. In my judgement this was an attack on our parliamentary democracy,” he said.
The judge noted that “parliamentary debate must not be stopped by criminality like this.”
Thomas Bowen’s lawyer said she “understands the gravity of the situation” and wishes to put the episode behind her.
