A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence after throwing items at Nigel Farage during the General Election campaign.
Josh Greally, 28, threw what appeared to be a coffee cup and another object at the Reform UK leader on June 11 during Barnsley town centre campaign stop.
Neither of the objects hit Farage, who was on the top deck of his party's battle bus.
He pleaded guilty to a public order offence at Barnsley Magistrates Court on June 26.
On Tuesday, Greally, from Derbyshre, was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months at the same court.
He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay £85 in court costs, with a surcharge of £154.
During his June hearing, Judge Tim Spruce told him: “This matter remains serious. To your credit you are a young man who has never been in trouble before.”
Prosecutor Kirsty Pearson said at the time that the fact the incident happened during a General Election campaign made it “much more serious”.
Pearson and the judge discussed what the objects thrown were and agreed it was difficult to tell from mobile phone footage of the incident, which was not shown in court.
They agreed that at least one of the items made a noise as it hit the side of the bus.
Greally threw the object from a fenced-off construction workers’ area as the Reform UK campaign bus was parked in the town centre.
He was caught on video by a number of people as he was quickly arrested by police.
Farage had been addressing supporters from the front of the top deck of the bus, but had been interrupted by a loud demonstration by people who opposed him.
Later that day, he described the incident as “pretty nasty” and what happened was condemned by politicians of all parties.
