Man, 28, who threw objects at Nigel Farage during visit by the Reform UK leader to Barnsley admits committing public order offence
- Josh Greally, 28, from Derbyshire, admitted throwing objects at Nigel Farage
- Reform leader was on an election battle bus on June 11 when incident happened
- Judge at Barnsley Magistrates' Court said it was 'a concern' he was targeted
A 28-year-old man has admitted throwing a coffee cup and another item at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as he campaigned on his battle bus, as the judge presiding over the case said it was 'a concern' that a politician had been targeted in this way.
Josh Greally was arrested in the town centre in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday June 11 after he threw what looked like a paper cup containing a liquid, and another object, at Mr Farage.
Neither of the objects hit the politician, who was on the top deck of the bus.
Greally, of Damsbrook Drive, Clowne, Derbyshire, appeared before a district judge at Barnsley Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to a public order offence during the 10-minute hearing.
Judge Tim Spruce said it appeared that the first item thrown was a coffee cup, but it was not clear what the second item was, and could have been another cup or some paper.
Josh Greally, 28, from South Yorkshire, has admitted throwing a coffee cup and another item at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as he campaigned on his battle bus in Barnsley on June 11
Dramatic footage showed Grealy throwing what looked like a paper cup containing a liquid, and another object, at Mr Farage
The video caught Greally throwing the objects at the bus as Nigel Farage waved to supporters
Mr Farage closes his eyes as the objects were hurled towards him. A judge said today that it 'a concern' that a politician had been targeted
He asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and said Greally will be sentenced on August 28 at the same court.
Judge Spuce told the defendant: 'All sentencing options are open.'
Shaven-headed Greally stood in the court wearing a pink shirt, black trousers and a black mask.
He did not answer questions from reporters as he left the court building shortly after admitting using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.
Judge Spruce told him: 'This matter remains serious. To your credit you are a young man who has never been in trouble before.'
Earlier, while talking to lawyers in the case, the judge said it was 'a concern' that a politician was targeted.
Prosecutor Kirsty Pearson said the fact the incident happened during a General Election campaign makes it 'much more serious'.
Ms Pearson and the judge discussed what the objects thrown were and agreed it was difficult to tell from mobile phone footage of the incident, which was not shown in court.
Just before the attack, around 100 protestors had gathered in Eldon Street, Barnsley, and were attempting to drown out Mr Farage as he spoke to onlookers
The protestors were largely demonstrating against measures to curb immigration to the UK
The moment police officers arrested Greally after he threw objects at Mr Farage's bus
Greally had thrown the object from a fenced-off construction workers' area as the Reform UK campaign bus was parked in the town centre
They agreed that at least one of the items made a noise as it hit the side of the bus.
Greally threw the object from a fenced-off construction workers' area as the Reform UK campaign bus was parked in the town centre.
He was caught on video by a number of people as he was quickly arrested by police.
Dramatic footage show a man in a red hoodie flinging objects at the Reform leader from a work site, before he was grabbed by the builders and arrested by police.
Mr Farage had been addressing supporters from the front of the top deck of the bus, but had been interrupted by a loud demonstration by people who opposed him.
The former MEP was standing at the top of the stairs of the open-top bus when he was alerted by a thud and ducked, along with a number of his supporters and journalists.
Later that day, Mr Farage described the incident as 'pretty nasty' and what happened was condemned by politicians of all parties.
Just before the attack, around 100 protestors had gathered in Eldon Street, Barnsley, and were attempting to drown out Mr Farage as he spoke to onlookers with a microphone from an open top bus.
The Reform leader told reporters afterwards: 'What we've now got is a mob that want to close down all debate, a mob that are prepared to use violence to achieve their goals, and that for a democratic country is very, very worrying indeed.'
Asked how he felt, Mr Farage added: 'Me? I'm used to it. I don't like it, of course not, this is stopping me doing what I want to do.
Mr Farage has made a dramatic return to the political frontline and also been installed as Reform UK leader in place of Richard Tice
'I'm at my best going out, meeting people and talking to them, having a debate with them, going around the pubs or whatever I do. And these violent youngsters are stopping me, it's very, very frustrating.'
He later posted the footage on X, saying: 'My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.
'I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.'
Mr Farage later said the attack was 'pretty nasty'.
Speaking while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, he said that the police tipped them off early that it was 'not a very good idea' to leave the battle bus.
He said: 'Protest is allowed. Protest is part of our democratic process. But protest needs to be within certain bounds. Protest does not involve chucking cement towards me, or even stones.
'I don't mind if someone shouts something rude at me, I would probably shout it back. But when it comes to violence that actually poses a real threat.'
He called the attack 'violent' and said he would be in hospital now if he had got off the bus.
He said he agrees that people who throw objects during campaigns should 'absolutely' go to jail.
The incident came just days after Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.
Earlier in the month, Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
The incident led to wide condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour's Yvette Cooper who called it a 'disgrace' and 'completely unacceptable and wrong'.
Thomas Bowen, an OnlyFans model, is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates' Court on July 2.
During a campaign walkabout in Newcastle in 2019, Mr Farage had a banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him.
Mr Farage has made a dramatic return to the political frontline and also been installed as Reform UK leader in place of Richard Tice.