Hello,
I really need some advice. I've read quite a few other threads here and found you all to be really insightful so can only hope for some advice now. I will try to include all the required information however please bear me with if I have forgotten any detail. I really, really appreciate any advice that you may be able to offer.
I was stopped in the summer at Shepherds Bush station for using a freedom pass. The pass belonged to my mother who had recently passed away unexpectedly. I had taken to carrying around some of her things; jewellery and cards with her photo and signature on. I was using her travel wallet which had the pass in it and had also inserted my own oyster card in it.
The female officer who stopped me took various notes from questions she asked me. I asked her if there was anything I need to sign or review and she stated no. Another officer took both cards to review prior usage. They acknowledged that in addition to using the freedom pass I had also used my own oyster card and topped it up the day before.
The same day I emailed the prosecutions unit; I explained that it was a very difficult time due to my mother passing unexpectedly and I could appreciate how the situation looked and it was never my attempt to evade any fare, I am a supporter of TfL and even a member of the museum in London. I offered to pay any fine awarded.
I later received a letter inviting me to an interview at Stratford station. I called the officer to arrange a time and then confirmed with him by email. I also forwarded him the email I had sent to the prosecutions team. I went to the interview which had two officers and someone else observing. The interview was recorded. At one point they read the statement from the officer who had stopped me at Shepherds Bush and asked me if it was correct, I said it was except that I had asked if I needed to sign anything and was told no. I asked if they had read the email I had sent, by this point to TfL, twice. He confirmed and read the email out for the tape. I confirmed that I had made all the journeys and did not deny anything. I told them at as well as dealing with my mothers' affairs and funeral I had been off work for a long period trying to deal with everything. I also explained that after my mother passing I had had to move in to her flat to take care of it plus pets and was now faced with the uncertainty of not being able to stay. I also said that due to my work, if I am prosecuted I will lose my job. I fully accept my actions though asked them to recognise that it was in an extremely difficult period and there was no conscious effort on my part to commit any crime.
They also gave me the opportunity to write any information/comments down to accompany my case, which I did. I didn't receive a copy of this but I did get one of the recorded interview.
After they stopped the tape (of course) he said, I'm going to give you some advice. He suggested I ask my GP to write a letter in support of my circumstances and to confirm some other points. He was actually very kind/sympathetic and said he could see the mitigating circumstances. They both discussed that compared to other cases, where there were definite attempts to commit fare evasion and people denying it even with CCTV footage, my case was clearly different. They even discussed who they knew in the relevant team and said they would contact them after the interview to see what they could do with my case. They suggested that I see my GP as soon as possible to get signed off with stress/depression and this would help the mitigation.
Some weeks later I received a letter from a Prosecution Manager, let's call him MA. MA asked me to send my response and any mitigating reasons within seven days. I wrote and emailed him what had happened, describing the circumstances and my personal situation. Again, I confirmed that my job would be at risk and offered to settle any fine. I also let him know that I had recently been prescribed anti-depressants as a result of everything. I included a copy of the initial email I had sent to the prosecutions team. He responded acknowledging receipt and said he had passed my email onto the relevant team.
Late last week I received a court summons for two weeks time. The summons states the charge is 'did enter a compulsory ticket area without having a valid ticket'.
I received a huge pack of paperwork, please let me know if there's anything I can give you from the pack.
One thing that I note from reviewing the pack is that the mitigation I have provided is missing. The emails I have sent and the hand written note from the interview are not there. Also not included is that during the interview I did not agree the officers statement from Shepherds Bush was entirely correct. Also missing from the officers notes who conducted the interview is his view/recommendation that this not be pursued as a criminal matter, though I wonder if it is normal practice not to do this.
In short, after a lot of text (thank you if you are still reading), I am a little angry that everything I have sent in has not been included in the pack to the court and that this is being taken to court. I fully accept that I used a pass that was not mine though I have also explained that I was not myself; there were periods that I did not know what day it was, I wasn't eating or working. I had taken to carrying my mothers ashes around with me because I could not bear to leave them if I had to go out.
I feel physically sick with worry about my job and to make matters worse, the day before receiving the Summons I received notice that I have to move in four weeks from my mothers home and my childhood home. Everything is coming now at once, after already such an already awful period. I have no idea what to do and would appreciate any advice you can offer me.
Thank you in advance,
I really need some advice. I've read quite a few other threads here and found you all to be really insightful so can only hope for some advice now. I will try to include all the required information however please bear me with if I have forgotten any detail. I really, really appreciate any advice that you may be able to offer.
I was stopped in the summer at Shepherds Bush station for using a freedom pass. The pass belonged to my mother who had recently passed away unexpectedly. I had taken to carrying around some of her things; jewellery and cards with her photo and signature on. I was using her travel wallet which had the pass in it and had also inserted my own oyster card in it.
The female officer who stopped me took various notes from questions she asked me. I asked her if there was anything I need to sign or review and she stated no. Another officer took both cards to review prior usage. They acknowledged that in addition to using the freedom pass I had also used my own oyster card and topped it up the day before.
The same day I emailed the prosecutions unit; I explained that it was a very difficult time due to my mother passing unexpectedly and I could appreciate how the situation looked and it was never my attempt to evade any fare, I am a supporter of TfL and even a member of the museum in London. I offered to pay any fine awarded.
I later received a letter inviting me to an interview at Stratford station. I called the officer to arrange a time and then confirmed with him by email. I also forwarded him the email I had sent to the prosecutions team. I went to the interview which had two officers and someone else observing. The interview was recorded. At one point they read the statement from the officer who had stopped me at Shepherds Bush and asked me if it was correct, I said it was except that I had asked if I needed to sign anything and was told no. I asked if they had read the email I had sent, by this point to TfL, twice. He confirmed and read the email out for the tape. I confirmed that I had made all the journeys and did not deny anything. I told them at as well as dealing with my mothers' affairs and funeral I had been off work for a long period trying to deal with everything. I also explained that after my mother passing I had had to move in to her flat to take care of it plus pets and was now faced with the uncertainty of not being able to stay. I also said that due to my work, if I am prosecuted I will lose my job. I fully accept my actions though asked them to recognise that it was in an extremely difficult period and there was no conscious effort on my part to commit any crime.
They also gave me the opportunity to write any information/comments down to accompany my case, which I did. I didn't receive a copy of this but I did get one of the recorded interview.
After they stopped the tape (of course) he said, I'm going to give you some advice. He suggested I ask my GP to write a letter in support of my circumstances and to confirm some other points. He was actually very kind/sympathetic and said he could see the mitigating circumstances. They both discussed that compared to other cases, where there were definite attempts to commit fare evasion and people denying it even with CCTV footage, my case was clearly different. They even discussed who they knew in the relevant team and said they would contact them after the interview to see what they could do with my case. They suggested that I see my GP as soon as possible to get signed off with stress/depression and this would help the mitigation.
Some weeks later I received a letter from a Prosecution Manager, let's call him MA. MA asked me to send my response and any mitigating reasons within seven days. I wrote and emailed him what had happened, describing the circumstances and my personal situation. Again, I confirmed that my job would be at risk and offered to settle any fine. I also let him know that I had recently been prescribed anti-depressants as a result of everything. I included a copy of the initial email I had sent to the prosecutions team. He responded acknowledging receipt and said he had passed my email onto the relevant team.
Late last week I received a court summons for two weeks time. The summons states the charge is 'did enter a compulsory ticket area without having a valid ticket'.
I received a huge pack of paperwork, please let me know if there's anything I can give you from the pack.
One thing that I note from reviewing the pack is that the mitigation I have provided is missing. The emails I have sent and the hand written note from the interview are not there. Also not included is that during the interview I did not agree the officers statement from Shepherds Bush was entirely correct. Also missing from the officers notes who conducted the interview is his view/recommendation that this not be pursued as a criminal matter, though I wonder if it is normal practice not to do this.
In short, after a lot of text (thank you if you are still reading), I am a little angry that everything I have sent in has not been included in the pack to the court and that this is being taken to court. I fully accept that I used a pass that was not mine though I have also explained that I was not myself; there were periods that I did not know what day it was, I wasn't eating or working. I had taken to carrying my mothers ashes around with me because I could not bear to leave them if I had to go out.
I feel physically sick with worry about my job and to make matters worse, the day before receiving the Summons I received notice that I have to move in four weeks from my mothers home and my childhood home. Everything is coming now at once, after already such an already awful period. I have no idea what to do and would appreciate any advice you can offer me.
Thank you in advance,
) brings the popcorn!