A mother-of-three ­racially abused a ­Muslim woman before spitting in the face of a police officer, a court has heard.

India McConnell, of Netley Road, Newbury Park, stood in front of a woman wearing a burka before shouting a racist slur and telling her to “go home”. Redbridge Magistrates’ Court heard the 27-year-old had been drinking the previous day and all night before the incident at 8.45am in Ilford Lane at its junction with Winston Way on October 4.

In a statement read out by the prosecution lawyer, a witness said Miss McConnell pulled up her top mimicking the ­woman’s head scarf before shouting the abuse. The witness said the woman was with four children, two in prams, who were “horrified”. He asked why she was shouting to which she ­replied: “This is England. She should go back home.”

He said she was becoming confrontational and she tried to get him into a side road. Fearing for his safety he called police. On seeing police Miss McConnell ran off through the car park of the Exchange Ilford, the court heard on Thursday. She was detained and arrested by Pc Simon Jackson and taken to Barkingside Police Station in a van. She had been kicking the door and when it was opened by Mr Jackson she remained aggressive and spat in his face, magistrates were told.

Miss McConnell pleaded guilty to using racially aggravated threatening and abusive words or ­behaviour but insisted she was not racist. She was bailed and will be sentenced on December 1.

Ilford Recorder, 14 November 2011

Via ENGAGE