A woman who racially abused and attacked a Tube passenger from Brent has been ordered to pay a total of £2,400 by the courts.

Ruth Tilley, of St Mary’s Terrace, Paddington, grabbed the 38-year-old woman by the throat and pushed her against the wall after hurling racist abuse at her at Oxford Circus station in January this year.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard the victim was waiting for a train on a platform when Tilley launched her unprovoked attack in front of commuters at 9.15am.

The 62-year-old admitted racially aggravated common assault at an early hearing.

Last week she was fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 compensation and £1,400 court costs.

DC Lawrence Murphy, investigating officer, said: “Ruth Tilley’s behaviour was completely unacceptable and is not tolerated on the Tube network.

“This type of abuse is fortunately rare on the London Underground, but when it does happen, British Transport Police takes it very seriously and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“Anyone who is a victim of hate crime should report it immediately to police so we can work to trace and arrest the offender as soon as possible.”