The deputy leader of the far-right group Britain First has been found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment and fined nearly £2,000.

Jayda Fransen, 30, who lives near South Norwood, was found guilty after hurling abuse at a Muslim woman wearing a hijab in front of her four young children.

She was slapped with a £1,000 fine for wearing a political uniform while shouting at mum Sumayyah Sharpe during a "Christian patrol" of Bury Park in Luton on January 23.

Around 20 Britain First members took part in the "patrol" and distributed branded newspapers which had a front page reading "World War Three has begun - Islam against the world", the court heard.

Fransen admitted telling Ms Sharpe that Muslim men force women to cover up to avoid being raped "because they cannot control their sexual urges", adding "that's why they are coming into my country raping women across the continent".

The incident was captured on camera by members of Britain First.

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Fransen appeared at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court

Ms Sharpe told the court: "She came across, shouting at me, saying 'Why are you covered?', and she said that quite a few times. I told her it was my choice that I cover.

"I then turned to the camera and I said, 'Film me, I'm British, I'm a British Muslim. It's my choice to wear this clothing and it's my right'."

She added: "I called her a slapper, I admit, and I told her to piss off because I was so angry at that point that she had done that in front of my children."

Fransen denies the words were intended to be offensive.

"The reason I said them was because from everything I have studied, I understand them to be true," Fransen said in her defence.

District Judge Carolyn Mellanby said she believed the group had gone to the area "looking for trouble" - but said Ms Sharpe had been mistaken as an "easy target".

"I have no doubt the words used towards her (Ms Sharpe), in her expression, represented everything against her and what she believes in," she said.

"In other words, offensive, insulting, abusive and, in my judgment, intended to cause offence and alarm and distress to her religion."

Fransen was sentenced at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court today (November 3).

She was fined £1,000 for the religiously aggravated harassment and £200 for wearing a political uniform.

She was also ordered to pay £620 in costs - as well as a £100 surcharge - and issued with a two-year restraining order to prevent her from contacting Ms Sharpe or engaging in intimidating behaviour towards her.