A 38-YEAR-OLD woman spat in the face of a rail employee after he challenged her for not having a ticket.

Linda Chapman, of Cremer Close, Chartham, near Canterbury, swore at revenue protection officer Nathan Kemp after getting off at Canterbury West, a court was told

Chapman admitted assaulting Mr Kemp on February 17 when she appeared before magistrates at Canterbury.

Jan Tebbett, prosecuting, said the incident happened after Chapman and a male companion got off about a train 12.30pm. Mr Kemp challenged Chapman and the man as they went to a ticket machine, asking why they didn’t already have tickets.

Mrs Tebbett said that as Mr Kemp told them it was too late to buy tickets Chapman swore at him and his colleague and threatened to jump over a fence alongside the platform. Chapman then spat in Mr Kemp’s face before walking away.

Ian Bond, defending, said Chapman’s behaviour was entirely out of character and there had been an 'element of provocation’ by Mr Kemp.

“When he approached her and her friend he was extremely aggressive and rude to her and responded to her comments in a similar fashion.”

Sentencing was adjourned until October 9 for reports.