Nigel Farage’s nephew, Joseph Farage, has escaped a prison sentence after pleading guilty to an upskirting charge at a Co-op store in Orpington. The 31-year-old was fined £576 instead of facing jail time and will not appear on the sex offenders register.
The Upskirting Incident
- What happened? Joseph Farage admitted placing a mobile phone under a woman’s clothing at a Co-op last July.
- The law: Upskirting has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since 2019.
Farage was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the unnamed victim, along with a £230 victim surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.
The Court’s Decision
- No jail time: The magistrates concluded the offence, while serious, did not meet the threshold for a prison sentence.
- No sex offenders register: Under UK law, an offender is only automatically placed on the register if the victim is under 18 or if the defendant receives a prison or hospital order, or a community sentence of at least 12 months.
Farage’s solicitor argued that his early guilty plea should reduce the sentence. The court heard he had no prior convictions and was “ashamed” of his behaviour.
Background and Family Matters
- Famous relative: Nigel Farage is the Reform UK leader and currently serves as MP for Clacton in Essex.
- Personal impact: Joseph Farage, an electrical company director from Kent, told the court he cooperated fully with police. He added that social services found no risk to his children.
Upskirting in the UK
Upskirting incidents often occur in shops and supermarkets. Figures from prosecutors show that 33 out of 48 recorded offences took place in retail settings. The first UK conviction was in 2019, involving a lawyer who took an image on the London Underground. Authorities have since urged prosecutors to remain vigilant in pursuing such cases.
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