Simone Joseph: Woman in anti-Islam bus rant avoids jail

Court handed down a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, on account of Joseph's previous good behaviour

A still from the video footage taken of Simone Joseph on the bus (YouTube)

A woman who was caught on camera verbally abusing a pregnant Muslim lady on board a busy London bus has avoided jail.

Simone Joseph, 36, was filmed on 13 October on the 201 bus calling 34-year-old Hanane Yakoubi an “Isis b****” and telling her to leave the UK.

When the five-minute video went viral, Joseph, a mother of three, handed herself into police.

Hendon Magistrates' Court handed down a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, on Friday after Joseph pleaded guilty to causing racially aggravated distress.

The court heard after Joseph viewed the entire video she told London Metropolitan officers she was “disgusted” with her behaviour.

In a statement read out in court, Ms Yakoubi said she was now afraid to leave her home, as she was worried “something similar will happen” because “I am a Muslim.”

Joseph’s lawyer, Tony Meisels, said his client “really is ashamed of what has happened and wishes to apologise to the complainant, the other people on the bus and the wider society.”

He added Joseph, who the court was told had family who were Muslim, recognised “in the cold light of day” the incident was “disgusting and extremely unpleasant”.

Magistrate Marion Stern said despite Joseph’s remorse “this was an abhorrent incident,” the Guardian reported. “This incident took place on a public bus in a confined space in the presence of the general public and children.”

Despite this, Joseph was spared jail time on account of her good character. She was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Ms Yakoubi and criminal court charges of £180, as well as completing 60 weeks of unpaid work.