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Backpacker who stripped on Malaysian mountain believed to be back in UK Backpacker who stripped on Malaysian mountain returns to the UK
(35 minutes later)
A British woman convicted of stripping on a sacred Malaysian mountain is believed to have returned to the UK. A British woman jailed for stripping on a sacred Malaysian mountain has apologised for causing offence as she arrived back in the UK.
Backpacker Eleanor Hawkins, who pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence, was due to arrive at Heathrow airport having been deported from Malaysia. Backpacker and university graduate Eleanor Hawkins appeared tearful as she read a statement outside her family home in Draycott, Derbyshire.
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. She said: “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.”
Her return to the UK brings to an end an arduous 10 days for the aeronautical engineering graduate, who was fined 5,000 Malaysian ringgit (£859) and sentenced to three days in jail – which she had already served – at a court hearing in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.
The 23-year-old arrived back in the UK on Sunday morning.
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.
“We would all now like Eleanor to be given the chance to recover, so we would really appreciate it if you would now afford us some privacy and allow her to get on with her life. We would like to thank again the British consulate officials who have support Ellie in Malaysia during this very difficult time.”
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 that killed 18 people.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 that killed 18 people.
Earlier, her father, Timothy, said the sentence his daughter received was appropriate and fair. “I’m grateful that the Malaysian authorities reached this decision,” he said. “Eleanor knows what she did was wrong and disrespectful and she is deeply sorry for any offence she’s caused to the Malaysian people. Earlier, her father, Timothy, said the sentence his daughter received was appropriate and fair. “I’m grateful that the Malaysian authorities reached this decision,” he said.
“We now look forward to having her back home but we don’t know when this will be as we’ve no contact with the consulate in Kuala Lumpur and have not spoken to Ellie.”
Several other backpackers who appeared in the photographs remain wanted by police, according to reports.Several other backpackers who appeared in the photographs remain wanted by police, according to reports.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck 13,400ft Mount Kinabalu on 5 June, killing 18 people and leaving hundreds more stranded.A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck 13,400ft Mount Kinabalu on 5 June, killing 18 people and leaving hundreds more stranded.
The Sabah state deputy chief minister, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, later blamed the quake on the travellers showing “disrespect to the sacred mountain”.The Sabah state deputy chief minister, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, later blamed the quake on the travellers showing “disrespect to the sacred mountain”.
A recent graduate with a master’s degree from Southampton University, Hawkins was in the middle of a gap year travelling around south-east Asia, which began in January. She went to Malaysia at the start of May and later that month travelled to Borneo.A recent graduate with a master’s degree from Southampton University, Hawkins was in the middle of a gap year travelling around south-east Asia, which began in January. She went to Malaysia at the start of May and later that month travelled to Borneo.