A drunken woman who racially abused a bus passenger and hit her in the face was granted bail so she could be assessed by the probation service.
Josephine Lynch, 45, was on the number 21 bus in Borough High Street when she told another passenger to ‘go back to their own country’.
She then hit her in the face – knocking her glasses off and scratching her cheek.
When she was arrested by police immediately after the outburst she kicked out at the officers, assaulting one, on January 15.
The offences put her in breach of an ASBO that was supposed to prevent her from assaulting or attempting to assault or abuse anyone.
Standing in the dock at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court last Friday Lynch admitted charges of assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty, breach of an ASBO, and a racially aggravated assault.
Her solicitor Bruce Reid said: “She was grossly intoxicated, madam, she has a drink problem.
“The date at which the offence occurred was her late mother’s birthday. The reminder of that bereavement pushed her over the edge.”
He added that Lynch was particularly ashamed of the offence as she has a mixed heritage herself, her mother having come from Trinidad. Lynch, of Finchley Road in Hampstead, was granted unconditional bail until she is sentenced at the same court on February 20.