Letter To Prosecute - Help Finalising My Response (Last Day)

[BiggieBoy]

Hi all,

(26, M)

I have been reviewing this forum and am writing my response to the letter to prosecute. Any help on tweaks to make will be greatly appreciated. Today is the last day so I want to ensure this letter is as good as it can be before sending.

I am happy to pay for the ticket costs and administrative costs as having a criminal record would crush me.

The details:
(I have valid railcard)

- Travelling from Wimbledon Chase to Farringdon
- No barriers at Wimbledon Chase so I walked through
- See ticket inspector and buy single ticket (with railcard discount) from Tulse Hill to Farringdon
- Realise he may get to me before then so I buy a single ticket (with railcard discount) from Streatham to Farringdon
- He sees it had just been bought and questioned how I got through barriers
- I admitted I just bought it and gave my details

I know it was stupid and this has certainly been a lesson learnt.

My response:

"
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to Prosecute regarding the incident on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at/near Herne Hill Station.

First, I want to sincerely apologise for my actions on that day. I can confirm that I boarded the train at Wimbledon Chase without a valid ticket. When I noticed the Revenue Protection Officer, I panicked and bought two separate tickets via Trainline mid-journey (from Tulse Hill to Farringdon, and then Streatham to Farringdon) in an attempt to cover my journey. When questioned by the officer, I realised the extent of what I had done and provided my details.

I fully understand the gravity of what I have done and feel deeply ashamed. The prospect of facing criminal prosecution has caused me immense anxiety, and I fully understand the seriousness of fare evasion and the impact it has on the railway network.

I want to take full responsibility for my actions and correct this mistake. I respectfully ask if GTR would consider settling this matter out of court. I am completely willing to pay the full outstanding fare from Wimbledon Chase, alongside any administrative costs or penalties you have incurred as a result of my actions.

A criminal record would have a devastating impact on my future and career. I have learned a harsh lesson from this experience, and I can assure you that I will never travel without a valid ticket again.

Thank you for taking the time to read my statement and for considering my request for an out-of-court settlement.

Yours faithfully,
"

Any advice on how to better word this letter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi all,

(26, M)

I have been reviewing this forum and am writing my response to the letter to prosecute. Any help on tweaks to make will be greatly appreciated. Today is the last day so I want to ensure this letter is as good as it can be before sending.

I am happy to pay for the ticket costs and administrative costs as having a criminal record would crush me.

The details:
(I have valid railcard)

- Travelling from Wimbledon Chase to Farringdon
- No barriers at Wimbledon Chase so I walked through
- See ticket inspector and buy single ticket (with railcard discount) from Tulse Hill to Farringdon
- Realise he may get to me before then so I buy a single ticket (with railcard discount) from Streatham to Farringdon
- He sees it had just been bought and questioned how I got through barriers
- I admitted I just bought it and gave my details

I know it was stupid and this has certainly been a lesson learnt.

My response:

"
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to Prosecute regarding the incident on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at/near Herne Hill Station.

First, I want to sincerely apologise for my actions on that day. I can confirm that I boarded the train at Wimbledon Chase without a valid ticket. When I noticed the Revenue Protection Officer, I panicked and bought two separate tickets via Trainline mid-journey (from Tulse Hill to Farringdon, and then Streatham to Farringdon) in an attempt to cover my journey. When questioned by the officer, I realised the extent of what I had done and provided my details.

I fully understand the gravity of what I have done and feel deeply ashamed. The prospect of facing criminal prosecution has caused me immense anxiety, and I fully understand the seriousness of fare evasion and the impact it has on the railway network.

I want to take full responsibility for my actions and correct this mistake. I respectfully ask if GTR would consider settling this matter out of court. I am completely willing to pay the full outstanding fare from Wimbledon Chase, alongside any administrative costs or penalties you have incurred as a result of my actions.

A criminal record would have a devastating impact on my future and career. I have learned a harsh lesson from this experience, and I can assure you that I will never travel without a valid ticket again.

Thank you for taking the time to read my statement and for considering my request for an out-of-court settlement.

Yours faithfully,
"

Any advice on how to better word this letter would be greatly appreciated.

Content is generally OK I would say

I would include their case ref number at the top

eg
Dear...

Your ref: xxxx

I am writing......


ref this para:

I want to take full responsibility for my actions and correct this mistake. I respectfully ask if GTR would consider settling this matter out of court. I am completely willing to pay the full outstanding fare from Wimbledon Chase, alongside any administrative costs or penalties you have incurred as a result of my actions.

Firstly I would not call it a 'mistake' (you did this on purpose after all)- call it an 'error of judgment' perhaps

Secondly:
I would tend to move that para to the end (well so it's the penultimate para above 'Thanks you for taking....'
My logic is that this is your key 'ask' of them - make it the last thing they read - as it makes it quicker for the reader - who probably has to read lots of these quickly - to know what you are offering.

more generally - are you posting it? or uploading it to their link assuming they have sent you one?

If posting - keep a copy of every page you send
Post it tracked postage from a post office and track the delivery so you know it gets there

If you can hold off sending it until eg lunch time tomorrow you may get more feedback from others on here.

 

[BiggieBoy]

Content is generally OK I would say

I would include their case ref number at the top

eg
Dear...

Your ref: xxxx

I am writing......


ref this para:



Firstly I would not call it a 'mistake' (you did this on purpose after all)- call it an 'error of judgment' perhaps

Secondly:
I would tend to move that para to the end (well so it's the penultimate para above 'Thanks you for taking....'
My logic is that this is your key 'ask' of them - make it the last thing they read - as it makes it quicker for the reader - who probably has to read lots of these quickly - to know what you are offering.

more generally - are you posting it? or uploading it to their link assuming they have sent you one?

If posting - keep a copy of every page you send
Post it tracked postage from a post office and track the delivery so you know it gets there

If you can hold off sending it until eg lunch time tomorrow you may get more feedback from others on here.

Hi and thanks for your response. I wasn't sure when the online portal would close so I had to submit it prior to your comment to ease my brain and nerves.

Luckily I'd changed the word mistake as it didn't sound right to me either. I sent through the online portal and included my ref number and auth code at top of response. This was my final response.

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to Prosecute regarding the incident on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at/near Herne Hill Station.

I want to apologise sincerely for my actions that day. I boarded the train at Wimbledon Chase without a valid ticket. During the journey, when I saw the officer I panicked about not having a ticket and mistakenly thought I could rectify it by purchasing tickets on the Trainline app mid-journey. I am deeply ashamed of how I handled the situation that morning and took full responsibility when speaking to the officer on board.

I fully understand the gravity of what I have done and again feel deeply ashamed. The prospect of facing criminal prosecution has caused me immense anxiety, and I fully understand the seriousness of fare evasion and the impact it has on the railway network. I also understand that I need to have a valid ticket before boarding the train, and any ticket bought during the journey is invalid.

I want to take full responsibility for my actions and correct this mistake. I respectfully ask if GTR would consider settling this matter out of court. I am completely willing to pay any outstanding fares, alongside any administrative costs you have incurred as a result of my actions.

A criminal record would have a devastating impact on my future and career. I have learned a harsh lesson from this experience, and I can assure you that I since have not, and will not travel without a valid ticket again.

Thank you for taking the time to read my statement and for considering my request for an out-of-court settlement.

Yours faithfully,
"

Hopefully that reads a bit better than the first version! Thanks again for your help!

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi and thanks for your response. I wasn't sure when the online portal would close so I had to submit it prior to your comment to ease my brain and nerves.

Luckily I'd changed the word mistake as it didn't sound right to me either. I sent through the online portal and included my ref number and auth code at top of response. This was my final response.

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing in response to the Notice of Intention to Prosecute regarding the incident on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at/near Herne Hill Station.

I want to apologise sincerely for my actions that day. I boarded the train at Wimbledon Chase without a valid ticket. During the journey, when I saw the officer I panicked about not having a ticket and mistakenly thought I could rectify it by purchasing tickets on the Trainline app mid-journey. I am deeply ashamed of how I handled the situation that morning and took full responsibility when speaking to the officer on board.

I fully understand the gravity of what I have done and again feel deeply ashamed. The prospect of facing criminal prosecution has caused me immense anxiety, and I fully understand the seriousness of fare evasion and the impact it has on the railway network. I also understand that I need to have a valid ticket before boarding the train, and any ticket bought during the journey is invalid.

I want to take full responsibility for my actions and correct this mistake. I respectfully ask if GTR would consider settling this matter out of court. I am completely willing to pay any outstanding fares, alongside any administrative costs you have incurred as a result of my actions.

A criminal record would have a devastating impact on my future and career. I have learned a harsh lesson from this experience, and I can assure you that I since have not, and will not travel without a valid ticket again.

Thank you for taking the time to read my statement and for considering my request for an out-of-court settlement.

Yours faithfully,
"

Hopefully that reads a bit better than the first version! Thanks again for your help!

I’m sure it’s ok to have sent that.

There are other opportunities to seek out if court settlements if a first request didn’t achieve that. But it’s rare we see that being necessary with this train operator who are prepared to settle out if court in the vast majority of cases you will find on the forum.