An OnlyFans model who threw a milkshake over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during the general election campaign has pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, launched the drink at Clacton MP Mr Farage outside a pub in the Essex town on June 4.
She had denied criminal charges against her, disputing the facts of the incident and claiming criminal prosecution was a disproportionate response to her “protest”.
But at Westminster magistrates court on Monday, Thomas Bowen changed her pleas on both charges to guilty, just as she was set to stand trial.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram adjourned sentencing to December 16 and told the defendant: “You have pleaded guilty to, in my judgment, two serious charges.
“This was an unprovoked, targeted attack now on an elected Member of Parliament.
“I take a serious view of these offences.
“I am seeking a pre-sentence report which will consider all options for sentence.”
In a witness statement read out in court, Mr Farage said he was not injured but “this incident caused me concern as I have only been going about my job” and that he tries to “have as much public engagement as possible”.
“I’m saddened that this has happened at a public campaign,” he added.
The confrontation was caught on camera, as Farage left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoons pub during a stop on his election campaign tour.
Thomas Bowen approached and threw a McDonald’s banana milkshake into Mr Farage’s face, and was arrested almost immediately.
It came just after Mr Farage had announced his intention to stand for election to Parliament in Clacton, an election he went on to win with more than 21,000 votes.
At an earlier hearing, prosecutor David Burns said the case against Thomas Bowen, who lives in St Osyth Road in Clacton-on-Sea, is that the milkshake was “deliberately thrown” over Mr Farage.
Her lawyer, Andrew Price, said that she intended to challenge the “proportionality” of the decision to bring a criminal prosecution, and she disputes some of the details of the incident.
With her guilty pleas, Thomas Bowen admitted the attack on Farage and also causing £17.50 of damage to the jacket of the politician’s security guard, James Wolfenden.
Thomas Bowen told police she saw a post online advertising Mr Farage’s attendance that day, and stated she “does not agree with his political views”.
She said she was outside the pub when she saw him leaving and decided to act because she “had the opportunity”.
Prosecutor Nishma Shah said Thomas Bowen had acknowledged to police officers that she threw the drink and clothes would need to be cleaned, but she added: “Nigel would be able to afford this.”
She also argued that she had not meant for the milkshake cup to hit Mr Farage.
Mr Price said on Monday: “This case has had a tremendous impact on this defendant.
“There have been a number of threats made against this defendant and she as much as possible wanted to put it out of her mind and avoid making the decision that she ultimately has come to.”
After the incident, Thomas Bowen told The Sun newspaper she “made my point” and admitted she disagrees with Mr Farage over immigration and “his approach to women”.
“I hadn't had any breakfast, and I was feeling quite lightheaded so I stopped at McDonalds on the way to the pier and got a banana milkshake”, she added.
Mr Farage, who has been the target of “milkshaking” incidents in the past, appeared to make light of the incident in a social media video.
In a clip shared online, he raised a McDonald’s milkshake in his hand and said “my milkshake brings all the people to the rally”.
Thomas Bowen has been freed on unconditional bail until sentencing.
