Topless British backpacker 'truly sorry' for causing offence

A British backpacker who stripped off on a sacred Malaysian mountain has publicly apologised for what she called her "foolish behaviour" after arriving back in the UK. Eleanor Hawkins was deported from Malaysia yesterday after admitting public indecency.

ITV News reporter Olivia Paterson explains:

Eleanor Hawkins, the British backpacker who was jailed for stripping on a sacred Malaysian mountain, has said in a statement on her return to the UK: "I just want to say how relieved and happy I am to finally be home. I know my behaviour was foolish and I know how much offence we all caused to the local people of Sabah. For that, I am truly sorry."

Backpacker and university graduate Eleanor Hawkins, 23, appeared tearful as she read a statement outside her family home in Draycott, Derbyshire.

Her mother Ruth said: "She knows what she did was wrong and disrespectful and she is deeply sorry for any offence caused to the people of Sabah and she has been appropriately and fairly judged by the Malaysian authorities and has served her sentence in full, the case is now closed."

A British woman convicted for stripping on a sacred Malaysian mountain has returned to the UK.

Backpacker Eleanor Hawkins, who pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence, arrived at Heathrow Airport early on Sunday morning having been deported from Malaysia.

At a court hearing in Kota Kinabalu on Friday she was fined 5,000 Malaysian ringgit (£859) and sentenced to three days in jail, which she had already served.

Miss Hawkins was arrested with three other backpackers earlier this week for posing naked on the mountainside, after being blamed by locals for causing an earthquake which killed 18 people.

A British woman convicted for stripping on a sacred Malaysian mountain is "pleased and happy" to be returning home to the UK, her lawyer said.

Backpacker Eleanor Hawkins, who pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence, is due to be deported from Malaysia today.

At a court hearing in Kota Kinabalu she was fined 5,000 Malaysian ringgit (£859) and sentenced to three days in jail, which she has already served.

The 23-year-old's jail sentence officially ended at midnight, her lawyer said, and she was handed to immigration officers to arrange for her flight home via Kuala Lumpur.

Ronny Cham, who represented Miss Hawkins in court yesterday, said she was relieved to be returning home.

He told the Press Association: "She is pleased and happy."

More: Father of mountain strip Brit 'relieved' court ordeal is over

A 24-year-old British woman who was photographed posing naked on Malaysia's highest peak is set to be deported after pleading guilty to a public nuisance offence.

Eleanor Hawkins was among a group of foreign tourists who were made an example of by Malaysian authorities after failing to respect local culture.

Hawkins, from Derby, was given a three-day prison sentence and an £860 fine.

ITV News correspondent Lucy Watson reports:

The father of a British woman who pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence after posing naked on a mountain in Malaysia, has said he is relieved his daughter's court ordeal is over.

Timothy Hawkins said the sentence given to his daughter Eleanor was "appropriate" and "fair" and confirmed the family were now waiting to be told when she would be coming home:

Mr Hawkins added that the family were keen to speak to Eleanor and check she was ok after seeing some of the videos of her being "treated pretty badly" as she was bundled in and out of court.

A group of four tourists, including British national Eleanor Hawkins, will be deported from Malaysia after pleading guilty to a public nuisance offence when pictures emerged of them posing naked on a mountain.

Sessions judge Dean Wyane Daly described the group's decision to strip while standing at the peak of Mount Kinabalu as a "foolish antic" and ordered that they leave the country.

He said: “The people especially the native community are annoyed. Your act amounted to foolishness on your part.”

Hawkins' lawyer confirmed the 24-year-old would be flying back to Britain tomorrow. It is not yet known when Dutch national Dylan Snel and Canadian siblings Lindsey and Danielle Peterson will fly home.

A British backpacker who pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence after posing naked on a mountain in Malaysia has been jailed for three days and handed a 5000 Ringit (£850) fine.

Eleanor Hawkins, 23, has reportedly already served her jail sentence due to time spent in custody.

ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson reports:

A British woman has pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence after posing naked on a mountain in Malaysia.

Eleanor Hawkins, 23, admitted to the offence at Kota Kinabalu Magistrates' Court this morning and could find out later today if she will be jailed.

Hawkins was arrested on Tuesday after pictures emerged of her and a group of fellow Western backpackers stripping naked on Malaysia's Mount Kinabalu.

A British woman being held by Malaysian authorities after posing naked on a sacred mountain is due to appear in court.

Eleanor Hawkins, 23, could be charged over allegations of indecent behaviour, according to her lawyer Ronny Cham.

Cham said: "She may be charged today or have her bail extended. I don't know."

Hawkins is due to appear at Kota Kinabalu Magistrates' Court later today.