Man pleads guilty to assaulting Nigel Farage by throwing a milkshake over him during Euro election campaigning in Newcastle
- Paul Crowther, 32, admitted common assault against Nigel Farage in court today
- He threw a £5.25 Five Guys milkshake at Brexit Party leader in Newcastle
- Crowther also pleaded guilty to criminal damage over a microphone
Paul Crowther, 32, pictured, has admitted common assault after throwing a milkshake at Nigel Farage last month
A protester who threw a milkshake at Nigel Farage during a city centre campaign visit has admitted common assault against the Brexit Party leader in court today.
The politician’s suit was left covered in the £5.25 banana and salted caramel Five Guys drink during an event in Newcastle ahead of last month’s European elections.
Paul Crowther, 32, who was arrested at the scene after being filmed dousing Mr Farage with the milkshake, told journalists the act was ‘a right of protest against people like him’.
Speaking at the time he said: ‘The bile and the racism he spouts out in this country is far more damaging than a bit of milkshake to his front.’
Crowther, of Throckley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was charged by Northumbria Police with common assault and criminal damage.
The criminal damage charge relates to a microphone which was damaged during the incident on May 20, the force said.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Mr Farage was heard telling a member of security staff that he ‘could have spotted that a mile off’.
Later that day, the Brexit Party leader said: ‘I won’t even acknowledge the low-grade behaviour that I was subjected to this morning, I won’t dignify it, I will ignore it.
‘Perhaps keep buying new clothes and carry on.’
Crowther threw a Five Guys milkshake over Mr Farage in Newcastle last month. The Brexit Party leader is pictured in the aftermath with an associate
He also tweeted afterwards blaming the incident on Remainers becoming ‘radicalised’.
The attack was condemned by other politicians including Brexit minister James Cleverly immediately condemned the episode, insisting that people should debate rather than ‘assault political opponents’.
Tony Blair branded the attack ‘horrible and ridiculous’, while Jo Cox’s widower Brendan Cox said it normalised ‘violence and intimidation’.
Downing Street said politicians had to be able to ‘campaign without harassment, intimidation and abuse’.
Mr Farage joins the list of candidates who have fallen victim to a ‘milkshaking’, including Ukip’s Carl Benjamin and ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.
Mr Farage wrote: ‘Sadly some remainers have become radicalised, to the extent that normal campaigning is becoming impossible.’