Emma West: Croydon tram race rant woman pleads guilty

Emma West will be sentenced on 24 June

A woman who was filmed shouting racist abuse on a London tram, in a video which was watched by 11 million people, has pleaded guilty to the offence.

Emma West, 34, of New Addington, was charged with two counts of racially-aggravated public order offences, one with intent to cause fear.

But at Croydon Crown Court she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of racially-aggravated disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

She is due to be sentenced on 24 June.

Knife attack

West, who attended court on Monday, had previously pleaded not guilty to the original offence.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), she can expect to be fined, compared to a possible custodial sentence the original charge carried.

The CPS added she would also be sentenced for two counts of assault which she pleaded guilty to at a previous hearing, one of which was attacking her partner with a knife.

West was filmed shouting racist abuse at passengers travelling on a tram between Croydon and Wimbledon.

She was arrested on 28 November 2011, after the footage was posted on YouTube.

During her appearance West's defence team told the court the British National Party had offered her its support and sent her flowers and cheques which had distressed her.