Archbishop's PA branded a fare dodger for 20p bus fare slip-up

The secretary of a London archbishop is being dragged through the courts - for mistakenly falling 20p short on a bendy bus.

Rachel McKenzie, a committed Christian, has told the Evening Standard of her despair at being branded a criminal for the first time at the age of 54.

If convicted, she will be given a criminal record and ordered to pay legal costs and a fine of up to £1,000. One lawyer suggested the case could cost taxpayers up to £5,000.

Ms McKenzie was caught out last November as she boarded a No12 bendy bus from her home in East Dulwich to her workplace in Southwark. She swiped her Oyster card through the reader and, unaware that the machine had beeped because she had insufficient funds, she took her seat. But two stops before the end of a journey a ticket inspector got on, checked her Oyster card and discovered she had just 70p on it - rather than the 90p then needed for the journey.

Mrs McKenzie, who works for the Catholic archbishop of Southwark, told the Standard: "He told me I was 20p short. I was really surprised. I told him it was an innocent mistake, that I had swiped the card next to the driver and he hadn't said anything and that I would pay the difference.

"I reached to get out my purse but he said I couldn't do that and that he had to report me. I thought that would be okay because I'll get the chance to explain it was just a mistake. I never thought it would end up with a criminal prosecution.

"It makes me think it is a ridiculous abuse of the legal system. I made a genuine mistake and was honest about it because I was sure the British legal system was a just one. I wonder about that now."

Ms McKenzie has enlisted the help of lawyers who are fighting her case free. But Transport for London has refused to cave in and she has now received a summons to appear before Sutton magistrates on 22 May.

Her legal adviser, Mark Stephens, said: "It is disgraceful. This prosecution is likely to cost as much as £5,000 to recover 20p. This is a scandalous abuse of the court system. She should have been allowed to pay the difference or, at worst, pay a penalty fare." He added that a criminal conviction could prevent MsMcKenzie working in the community in future or make it difficult to obtain a visa to travel to America.

TfL's legal department wrote to Ms McKenzie last week saying: "Consistent with all cashless services, it is your responsibility to ensure you have sufficient credit in your card to pay for your bus journey."

The TfL enforcement policy says it seeks to be "firm but fair" and aims to ensure prosecution is only considered where there is clear evidence of irregular travel. It also says it will prosecute if the offence occurred "in an area known to occasion high revenue loss".

Last night, TfL said: "Fare evasion is illegal. Fare dodgers cost passengers using public transport millions of pounds every year."

Last year, more than 47,215 people received a £20 penalty fare and more than 30,000 were prosecuted.

The case comes after a University of East London student was given a criminal record for travelling one stop on a bus without a valid ticket. Ashley Williams, 20, said her Oyster card beeped at her, but the No38 left the stop in Hackney before she could alight. She was taken to Stratford magistrates' court last September.