An Archbishop's secretary who faced a criminal record over a 20p shortfall in her London bus fare is celebrating after she won her legal battle.
Rachel McKenzie, 54, has had the case against her dropped by Transport for London (TfL) after widespread publicity.
She swiped her Oyster pre-pay card over a reader next to the driver on a bendy bus in south-east London in November without realisi
ng she only had 70p on her card.
Miss McKenzie, who works for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, said she offered to pay the difference when an inspector discovered the shortfall, but was told she would be reported.
She was sent a summons to appear in court on May 22.
She had argued that her actions had been a "genuine mistake" - and that the shortfall had not even been spotted by the bus driver.
She said: "Basically TfL have decided to drop the case against me which is great. It is a victory for common sense. My thanks go to everyone who has helped me, especially my lawyer Mark Stephens.
"I do feel quite strongly about it and I hope that TfL now reviews its enforcement and prosecution policy and takes more care before deciding to prosecute in the future."
A TfL spokeswoman said: "After further representations from Ms McKenzie's lawyers this weekend, TfL undertook a full review of her case and have decided not to take the matter any further.
"TfL aims to be firm but fair in its prosecutions policy and is always willing to receive and consider representations during the progress of a case. However, fare evasion costs TfL and its passengers millions of pounds every year and it is important that deliberate fair evasion is prosecuted."
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