Archbishop's secretary to face trial over 20p

London: The secretary of a London archbishop is being dragged through the courts for mistakenly falling 20 pence (Dh1.45) short on a bendy bus.

Rachel McKenzie, a committed Christian, is desperate over 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 (Dh7,221). One lawyer suggested the case could cost taxpayers up to £5,000 (Dh36,109).

McKenzie was caught out last November as she boarded a bus from her home in East Dulwich to her workplace in Southwark. She touched her prepaid bus card on 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 card and discovered she had just 70 pence on it - rather than the 90 pence then needed for the journey.

McKenzie, who works for the Catholic archbishop of Southwark, said: "He told me I was 20 pence 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. I never thought it would end up with a criminal prosecution. "

Ridiculous abuse

"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."

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 May 22.

Her legal adviser, Mark Stephens, said: "This is a scandalous abuse of the court system. She should have been allowed to pay the difference."