An anti-Israel lawyer, who was imprisoned over a racist rant at airline staff, has been found dead after her release from prison.

Simone Burns, 50, was sentenced to six months' in jail in April at Isleworth Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to both assault and being drunk on an aircraft.

It came after she was filmed in November spitting in the face of one member of the cabin crew of the Air India flight from Mumbai to Heathrow.

The court heard her behaviour was uncharacteristic and influenced by drink, anxiety and fears she could miss a family funeral.

She shouted she was "an international criminal lawyer for the f***ing Palestinian people".

“I’m a leader of the f***ing boycott movement," she shouted. “If I say 'boycott' - f***ing Air India, done… I'm a f****** barrister. A human rights lawyer, and an international criminal lawyer.”

"I have done so much for you f***ing Indians and f***ing Pakistanis, you should be grateful to me," she also said.

Ms Burns, who was also known as Simone O'Broin, was released on licence on May 20 and found dead 13 days letter at the foot of the Beachy Head cliffs in Sussex, The Telegraph reported.

A friend, who did not want to be named, told the paper Ms Burns' world "fell apart" after footage of her rant went viral on social media.

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "The body of a woman found at Beachy Head on June 1 has been identified as 50-year-old Simone Burns from Hove.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and the next of kin have been informed. The matter has been passed to the coroner's officer."