Am I going to prison?

[Littleredfox]

Hi! I'm a eighteen year old female. I dodged a few trains about three when I was younger but paid my fines and stopped doing it. One time however more recently someone told me the ticket station wasn't working so I decided to buy the ticket at my destination. The officer at the barriers didn't give me a chance to do so and took my name and adress. Months and nothing came. Then I got a letter saying I could appeal before a court hearing!! So I did but it got declined. Apparently there is a three moth sentence I could get or to pay 17,000 pound or a year in prison!! I'm sooo scared. !!! Please no horrible comments. I know I ****ed up but this was an accident !

 

[bb21]

£17000? What?

I think you need to calm down, think a little and explain what happened exactly on the day (who said what, did what, what stations were involved, time of the day, etc) and what happened subsequently before anyone can help you at all.

 

[najaB]

Apparently there is a three moth sentence I could get or to pay 17,000 pound or a year in prison!! I'm sooo scared. !!! Please no horrible comments. I know I ****ed up but this was an accident !

To echo bb21's post, please let us know the details - what station were you travelling from and to, what train company (if you know), exactly what does the letter you've received said. If possible, post a scan of it (with your personal details blanked out), if it's not possible then type it into a post.

At first glance, something seems very, very strange about a £17,000 fine or a year's custodial sentence.

 

[swt_passenger]

At first glance, something seems very, very strange about a £17,000 fine or a year's custodial sentence.

Is it coincidence that this is the same fine etc mentioned regarding the guy caught forging first class tickets a couple of days ago?

Someone might be winding the OP up, by suggesting that the recent headline punishment is typical, maybe?

 

[najaB]

Someone might be winding the OP up, by suggesting that the recent headline punishment is typical, maybe?

That's what I'm wondering as well - £17K or a 12 month sentence sounds very familiar.

 

[FQ]

Agreed. Even if you were trying to dodge a fare on the Highland Chieftain from Kings Cross to Inverness it wouldn't be 17K!

I say that it won't be anywhere near 17,000 quid!

 

[ilkestonian]

£17000? What?

I think you need to calm down, think a little and explain what happened exactly on the day (who said what, did what, what stations were involved, time of the day, etc) and what happened subsequently before anyone can help you at all.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=112948

 

[cjmillsnun]

OK lets get some facts straight (and I am going on the OP being genuine)

The 17k fine / years prison sentence was given to someone who was producing fraudulent tickets.

Without knowing the full details of your case (which TOC, dates, the wording on the court summons) I can't say for certain how you are being processed, however the most common type of case brought to court involves byelaw offences.
Specifically Byelaws 17 or 18. These offences are strict liability and are non recordable (i.e. you don't get a criminal record). If convicted then there is no jail term and a fine that will be a few hundred pounds (the price of the fare, and some costs that will be apportioned to the TOC, a victim of crime fund (this funds organisations like Victim Support), and to the Government).

The other possibility is a RoRA section 5. This does have the possibility of a custodial sentence, although this is rare. It also will give you a criminal record and will again result in a fine, that is normally proportionate to the fare and costs of pursuing the case. As you would be counted as a serial offender, this could well be the route the TOC is following.

To know for certain, we need the wording on the summons and the details of when and where the incident took place.

 

[yorkie]

The thread was getting increasingly off-topic and jokey, so I've locked it. Sorry to be a spoilsport.

In the unlikely event that the original poster (OP) returns, I will unlock it if required. The OP has a PM.

 

[Littleredfox]

O.K! So me and my partner went down from London to Hertfordshire, Great Northen I believe. Didnt buy a ticket, someone told us the machine was out of use I think. Was gunna buy one on the other side, didnt give us a chance and took our names and numbers. Fines never turned up, like three months later I singularly received one saying that I was going to be summoned to court if I didnt appeal. I appealed and got turned down and have now been told that I will be sent a court summons. Im scared.

 

[Clip]

O.K! So me and my partner went down from London to Hertfordshire, Great Northen I believe. Didnt buy a ticket, someone told us the machine was out of use I think. Was gunna buy one on the other side, didnt give us a chance and took our names and numbers. Fines never turned up, like three months later I singularly received one saying that I was going to be summoned to court if I didnt appeal. I appealed and got turned down and have now been told that I will be sent a court summons. Im scared.

What station in London? There are a few on the great northern and where to as this really would help you( I take it is wasn't a terminal station)

And who told you the machine was out of order?

 

[najaB]

I appealed and got turned down and have now been told that I will be sent a court summons. Im scared.

You don't need to be scared - things aren't as bad as you might think. I can pretty much guarantee that you won't get a £17,000 fine, nor go to prison for 12 months.

Could you fill in some of the blanks please: what stations did you travel from and to, what conversation did you have with the staff who stopped you, does the letter say exactly what charge are you being taken to court for?

 

[broadgage]

Agree that more detail is needed to advise the O/P
I would however reassure you that a prison sentence can not be imposed for a bylaw offence.
Under the regulation of railways act, a custodial sentence is possible but most unlikely EXCEPT in the case of large scale or repeated fraud.
People HAVE been imprisoned for large scale ticket fraud such as forging tickets and selling them.

For travel without a ticket (or valid reason) a fine is usual, possibly a rather large fine if you have "previous" But £17,000 ? I doubt it. And prison is just as unlikely unless the circumstances are much more serious than is suggested by the original post.

 

[Littleredfox]

What station in London? There are a few on the great northern and where to as this really would help you( I take it is wasn't a terminal station)

And who told you the machine was out of order?

Hornsey stattion to Hertford. hertford is where I got off. And a passer by told me

 

[DaleCooper]

Hornsey stattion to Hertford. hertford is where I got off. And a passer by told me

According to NR enquiries Hornsey has a ticket office:

Opening hours
Monday - Friday 07:00 - 13:25
Saturday - Sunday Closed

When did the OP travel?

 

[Llanigraham]

Always wise to check yourself and not rely on the words of others!

 

[najaB]

Littleredfox, could you tell us exactly what the letter you have received says you are being charged with?