Student fined for bus fare 'mistake'

LONDON, April 17 (UPI) -- A British university student said she has been forced to pay a fine and given a criminal record because she ran out of money on her pre-paid bus card.

University of East London student Ashley Williams, 20, said she boarded a bus without realizing her card was out of money and the doors closed before she could exit the vehicle and buy a ticket, The Daily Mail reported Thursday.

Inspectors boarded at the next stop, and despite the bus driver's statement of support for Williams' story, she was taken to court and fined $240.

"I'm really upset and angry -- it was not intentional," Williams said. "They took the stance that I was a fare dodger. They would not even believe my details."

The student's mother, college lecturer Anne Williams, said her daughter had no previous run-ins with the law.

"She has never before even had her name taken, let alone been given a penalty fare," she said. "Getting a criminal record for an innocent mistake -- and a first offense -- is ridiculous and unjust. It will have an effect on her future job applications as she will always have to declare it and it is such a competitive job market."