Man to pay Nigel Farage £350 after throwing milkshake over him
Video report by ITV News Reporter Ben Chapman
A man who threw a milkshake over Nigel Farage during a city centre walkabout must pay the politician £350 compensation and complete 150 hours of unpaid work, following the "politically motivated attack".
Earlier on Tuesday, Paul Crowther pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage after the Brexit Party leader’s suit was left covered in milkshake after Crowther threw it over him.
Paul Crowther, who was arrested at the scene after being filmed dousing Mr Farage with the £5.25 banana and salted caramel Five Guys milkshake, told journalists the act was “a right of protest against people like him”.
ITV News Midlands reporter Ben Chapman, who was in court for the hearing, said that Mr Crowther had lost his job due to the incident.
In his defence, Mr Crowther's solicitor told the the court that “the throwing of foodstuffs at politicians as a form of protest has a long and rich history” and does not qualify as political violence.
After the incident, Mr Crowther said of Mr Farage: “The bile and the racism he spouts out in this country is far more damaging than a bit of milkshake to his front.”
The 32-year-old was charged by Northumbria Police with common assault and criminal damage.
As well as the compensation and unpaid work, Crowther was also given a 12-month community order, pay an £85 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
The £350 compensation is to cover damage to a lapel microphone Mr Farage was wearing, suit cleaning, distress and inconvenience.
The criminal damage charge relates to a microphone which was damaged during the incident on May 20, the force said.
A Gofundme page entitled “Get Paul Crowther his milkshake money back” raised £1,705.
Crowther appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning, where he admitted the charges.
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, he 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.”
District Judge Bernard Begley said Crowther will not be jailed but must carry out unpaid work. He adjourned sentence while the defendant was interviewed by the Probation Service.