UK woman denies Farage 'milkshaking' incident was assault

A 25-year-old woman on Tuesday denied charges of assault by beating and criminal damage after Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage was doused with a milkshake during the recent UK general election campaign.

Victoria Thomas Bowen was charged in connection with the incident, which occurred as the 60-year-old politician left a pub in Clacton-on-Sea, southeast England, on June 4.

Farage, the newly appointed leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, was covered in what appeared to be banana milkshake from a McDonald's cup.

Bowen, 25, who lives in the seaside town, pleaded not guilty to both charges at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Her lawyers told court that Bowen "strongly protests her innocence and looks forward to fighting these unjust charges in court".

Prosecutors say the incident caused £30 ($39) of criminal damage to the jacket worn by Farage.

Bowen was released on unconditional bail and will appear before the same court for trial on October 21.

It was not this first time Farage has been targeted in a milkshake attack.

A man doused him when he was leader of Reform's forerunner, the Brexit party, during the 2019 European election campaign.

The perpetrator, Paul Crowther, admitted assault and criminal damage to a lapel mic on Farage's suit, and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service and pay damages.

Josh Greally, 28, admitted throwing a coffee cup and another item at Farage as he campaigned in northern England on June 11 this year.

He will be sentenced on August 28.

Farage, a former European Parliament member, won the seat in the July 4 election, having run for and failed seven times to become a British MP.