Man admits throwing objects at Nigel Farage on general election campaign trail in Barnsley
A man has admitted throwing objects at Nigel Farage while he was campaigning on his battle bus.
Josh Greally pleaded guilty to a public order offence at Barnsley Magistrates Court during a hearing on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old, from Chesterfield, was arrested on 11 July in Barnsley town centre after he threw a coffee cup and another item at the Reform UK leader.
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Neither of the objects hit the politician, who was on the top deck of the bus.
Judge Tim Spruce said it was not clear what the second item thrown was, but said it could have been another cup or some paper.
He asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and said Greally would be sentenced on 28 August at the same court.
Judge Spruce told the defendant: "All sentencing options are open."
Mr Farage said he would "not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob" following the incident.
Pictures showed him raising his arm across his face and wincing after he spotted the objects flying his way.
The veteran Eurosceptic has also been doused in a milkshake during the election campaign - though it was not the first time he had been pelted with the drink.
In May 2019, a man doused the then-Brexit Party leader with a £5.25 banana and salted caramel milkshake during a walkabout in Newcastle ahead of European elections.
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The thrower was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage, and was ordered to pay Mr Farage £350 in compensation to have his suit cleaned.
"Milkshaking" - the act of dousing public figures with a milkshake - was recognised by Collins Dictionary later that year.
In 2014, Mr Farage, then leader of UKIP, also had an egg thrown at him by a protester during a campaign visit to Nottingham.
He had initially ruled out running in the 2024 election but then made a last-minute decision to throw his hat in the ring in Clacton, Essex, in what is his eighth attempt to be elected as an MP.
The other candidates for the Clacton constituency are:
Bensilum, Matthew (Liberal Democrats)
Jamieson, Craig (Climate Party)
Mack, Tony (Independent)
Osben, Natasha (Green Party)
Owusu-Nepaul, Jovan (Labour Party)
Papanastasiou, Tasos (Heritage Party)
Pemberton, Andrew (UKIP - NO to Illegal Immigration)
Watling, Giles Francis (The Conservative Party Candidate)
