A WOMAN who attacked three Tube workers when they caught her using her grandmother's freedom pass has been fined �500 and ordered to pay compensation to her victims. Francesca Bishop, 22, of Donegal Street, Islington, was stopped at Westminster Tube stati

A WOMAN who attacked three Tube workers when they caught her using her grandmother's freedom pass has been fined �500 and ordered to pay compensation to her victims.

Francesca Bishop, 22, of Donegal Street, Islington, was stopped at Westminster Tube station at just after midnight on March 7 after using a freedom pass without an identity card.

She admitted it was her grandmother's pass, but became very abusive and hit the station supervisor. Bishop then lashed out at two other staff members, leaving one with a bruised face.

Bristish Transport Police officers arrived and identified Bishop during a search of the area. She was arrested and later charged with three counts of assault.

At City of London Magistrates' Court, Bishop was ordered to pay two of her victims �50 compensation and the other �100 compensation after she pleaded guilty to all three counts. She will also have to pay �100 in costs.

Police Constable John Odunsi, the investigating officer, said: "Bishop should not have been using the freedom pass to travel and her actions when challenged were inexcusable.

"Assaults on staff will not be tolerated and wherever possible we will build a case against offenders and see them have their day in court."

Aidan Harris, manager of London Underground's workplace violence unit, said: "Bishop thought she was beyond the law by knowingly travelling with a pass that she was not entitled to use. Our staff were simply doing their job when they approached her and the assault was unnecessary as well as nasty.

"We take the welfare of our staff seriously and hope this hefty fine will stop Bishop from behaving like this again.