An irate rail passenger slapped a ticket inspector after claiming he had likened her to a character from EastEnders.

Holly Carden had been drinking with her partner before arriving at Maidstone East Station.

Revenue protection officer Lee Mangold had been talking to colleagues when he was shouted at by the 41-year-old.

She believed the group had been insulting her by saying she looked like EastEnders’ character Shirley Carter, famous for shooting Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap.

During a hearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court she admitted one count of assault by beating.

Deborah Jones, prosecuting, said the officers were on platform two, talking among themselves, on September 28, just before 6pm.

“She thought the officers were saying unsavoury things about her and she shouted at them.

“Her partner tried to calm her down, he was holding her. She slapped Mr Mangold across the face and he called the police.”

Carden, of Ceylon Place, Eastbourne, claimed she was also assaulted during the incident by the revenue protection officers.

She told magistrates she had been told of a death in the family just moments before arriving.

Carden said: “He assaulted me. I heard the insult they made and I reacted in a split second.”

She was fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs. Carden must also pay a £30 victim surcharge.