A MAN has admitted to harassment of BBC journalist Sima Kotecha as she was preparing to go live on air on May 10 last year.

As previously reported, Russell Rawlingson, 50, was accused of causing racially aggravated alarm or distress to journalist Sima Kotecha.

Ms Kotecha, from Popley, Basingstoke, was due to interview people in Leicester following government lockdown restriction announcements, but was forced to abandon the segment.

MailOnline reported at the time that Rawlingson, of Glenfield Road, Leicester, denied the charge.

However, he this week pleaded guilty to a lesser non-racially aggravated version of the offence, BBC News has reported.

The prosecution did not initially accept his plea to the lesser charge, however the BBC reported that Ms Kotecha did not wish it to go to trial, and the plea to the lesser charge was therefore accepted.

This charge was using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence.

Rawlingson is due to be sentenced on May 11 2021.

Sharing the news on Twitter, Ms Kotecha wrote: "No journalist should be subjected to abuse while doing their job.

"Thanks to my #BBC team who acted professionally and with dignity on the day. Justice prevails."

Ms Kotecha has previously spoken to the Gazette about the need for greater diversity and inclusivity in the media.

"There have been times when I’ve felt like I’m really different, and I stand out like a sore thumb, but I think that is changing,” she said.

A BBC News spokesperson said: "It's completely unacceptable that our journalists should suffer abuse for doing their jobs. The BBC stands by our brave and talented correspondent Sima Kotecha, her colleagues, and her guest."