Menu
Thu, 3 October 2024

Newsletter sign-up

Subscribe now
The House Live All
Energy
By Lord Brady
Education
By Robert Buckland
Press releases

Nigel Farage milkshake attacker pleads guilty to assault and criminal damage

2 min read

A man has pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage after he threw a milkshake at Nigel Farage in Newcastle last month.


Paul Crowther was filmed walking up to and lobbing the banana and salted caramel drink at the Brexit Party leader as he campaigned in the city on 20 May, ahead of the EU elections.

The 32-year-old was promptly arrested and later charged by Northumbria Police.

According to the Independent, he told journalists immediately following the incident: “It’s a right of protest against people like him.

“The bile and the racism he spouts out in this country is far more damaging than a bit of milkshake to his front.”

A Gofundme page entitled "Get Paul Crowther his milkshake money back" was later set up and raised £1,705.

It came after other pro-Brexit figures including former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson and Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin were targeted in separate incidents.

Mr Farage later blamed the trend on anti-Brexit protesters, who he said had been emboldened by politicians who had failed to lead the UK out of the EU on time.

“Sadly some Remainers have become radicalised, to the extent that normal campaigning is becoming impossible,” he said in a tweet.

“For a civilised democracy to work you need the losers’ consent, politicians not accepting the referendum result have led us to this.”

Mr Crowther appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he admitted the charges, which included criminal damage in relation to a microphone.

District Judge Bernard Begley said he will not be jailed, but must carry out unpaid work.

He adjourned sentence while the defendant was interviewed by the Probation Service.

PoliticsHome Newsletters

PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe

Read the most recent article written by Nicholas Mairs - Public sector workers to get 5% pay rise from April if Labour wins election

Podcast
Engineering a Better World

The Engineering a Better World podcast series from The House magazine and the IET is back for series two! New host Jonn Elledge discusses with parliamentarians and industry experts how technology and engineering can provide policy solutions to our changing world.

NEW SERIES - Listen now