A TEENAGER has been accused of “deliberately” damaging her free travel card after it was put in a washing machine.

She has now been banned from using her free bus pass for a year — and if she does, she faces prosecution.

As Lauren Osborn is 13, she qualifies for an Oyster photocard from Transport for London (TfL) which allows her to travel for free on buses and trams throughout the capital.

In May, inspectors boarded a bus Lauren was travelling on and confiscated her card as it was damaged, although it still worked when swiped on the ticket reading machine.

Her mother, Jackie, called TfL explaining she had damaged the card by putting it in the washing machine and a new travel card arrived in the post.

Just days later, a letter arrived from TfL, informing the family Lauren had been banned from having a free travel card for a year because the Coopers Technology College pupil had “deliberately damaged” it.

Mrs Osborn, of Englefield Path, Orpington, said: “It was cracked. There was a split in it.

“It’s absolutely appalling she loses free travel because I damaged the card by putting it in the washing machine.”

The letter warned if Lauren tried to use the stopped card or travel for free, she would be prosecuted or issued with a penalty fare.

When young people apply for the free pass they are asked to sign a Behaviour Code, which states youngsters must not damage or deface the cards.

The letter explains the card has been withdrawn because the code was breached.

Her family appealed the decision, explaining how it ended up in a clothes wash, but received a second letter on June 5.

It said: “The facts of the case have been carefully considered, and I must inform you your appeal has been refused.”

Again, it stated: “The pass was deliberately damaged.”

The mum-of-one said: “I don’t think the facts have been carefully considered.

“I don’t think it has looked at my appeal because if it had, it would see it was not my daughter’s fault.

“This is a standard letter with no signature.

“There is no number to call them and ask them anything.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

As a result, Mrs Osborn has had to pay for her daughter’s transport to school at a cost of £4 a day.

The pre-school owner said: “I can understand if she had been a problem on the bus.

“My daughter has never been in trouble for anything. She is an exemplary student.”

Mrs Osborn has been sent a second appeal form — identical to the first — so she can question the decision for a second time.

But she says she is not optimistic it will make any difference.

A spokeswoman for TfL said it was reviewing the case.