Help please - possible prosecution

[Hobbs78]

Hello

I Really need some advice
My daughter is 19 she suffers with anxiety depression and she self harms
On 18 jan she went off - as in left work early disappeared and cut all contact with us for a good few hours she traveled from se18 area to London and ended up in Victoria
She responded to our pleas eventually after many many frantic phone calls and messages to tell us that she wanted to disappear and didn’t want to live .. we managed to find her location at one point on iPhone tracking as being Vauxhall - we were in contact with the police at Vauxhall and Brixton as we reported her missing and informed them of her pre exsisting issues. The police were I have to say amazing and were in contact with us constantly and were searching for her as were myself and my husband... eventually the police found her at Victoria station. At some point she must have got on the train from Vauxhall to Waterloo in her wandering
Anyway I have completely rambled and you prob didn’t need to hear all that
So basically as I have said above at some point she had travelled from Vauxhall to waterloo
I am aware of this now as I opened an important looking letter addressed to her recently (I know I shouldn’t have) in the letter was a final reminder for a penalty fare for traveling between the above stations mentioned £90
I meant to just pay the fine as I just didn’t want to have to go through that whole situation with her - she has only recently got back on a slightly even keel after having medication adjusted (and upped) after the incident of that day.
She sees a psychiatrist weekly Under the local mental health trust
I literally forgot about it and went to pay the fine online tonight after sorting through some other bills and it would not let me - it said it is being put forward for prosecution
My daughter is just about to start uni and has had such a rough time I can’t bear the thought of her having to go to court I just feel she is to fragile emotionally and mentally to take it
Would I be able to contact the train company who are first mtr sw or the court to settle before prosecution?
I have tried to speak to the customer service team by telephone at Ircas but they are not open
Any advise gratefully received

 

[yorkie]

Sorry to hear that.

I agree that paying the penalty fare plus any associated fees (and potentially out of court settlements) is much better than letting the matter go to court (which could lead to a fine and possibly a criminal conviction)

Phoning IRCAS is futile. Write to them.

You could try phoning SWR also.

I am not sure if SWR outsource their prosecutions to IRCAS, but someone here will know. Some train companies get the cases handed to themselves to prosecute if IRCAS are unable to collect the debit, and if so the case would be handed back to SWR.

 

[Hobbs78]

Thank you for responding and for the advice

I will try writing to Ircas and SWR

 

[Mathew S]

@Hobbs78 - Sorry to hear your daughter is having such a tough time, which can't be easy on you either.

Trust Yorkie's advice, he knows what he's doing and there's nothing I can add to the substance of what he's said.

One additional suggestion, though, is to talk to the mental health team treating your daughter. I don't know where you are, but I know in my locality the trust have a small team of staff who specifically work to help people who have got into legal difficulties as a result of their health condition. If nothing else, I'm sure the psychiatrist could provide evidence/a letter that would support your case.

Just a suggestion anyway. Best of luck with it all.

M

 

[Wirewiper]

I would also suggest that she raises this with her Mental Health Team. Also if she has access to an independent Mental Health Advocacy service it would be worth her contacting them - her MHT or your local Mind would be able to signpost her to such a service.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

One additional suggestion, though, is to talk to the mental health team treating your daughter.

I too strongly support this advice. A very brief note from her case worker, or other assigned responsible person, simply stating the facts of her condition will be helpful and, in my opinion and if I have understood her condition correctly, should be all that is necessary to conclude the matter.

 

[Hobbs78]

Thank you all so much for your help & suggestions
I will ask her to talk to her counsellor - she will be seeing her tomorrow
And will be contacting SWR too
And looking into if there is a mental health advocacy team to help with things
Thanks again for responding - I really appreciate it

 

[Mathew S]

Thank you all so much for your help & suggestions
I will ask her to talk to her counsellor - she will be seeing her tomorrow
And will be contacting SWR too
And looking into if there is a mental health advocacy team to help with things
Thanks again for responding - I really appreciate it

You're very welcome. Come back and ask if you need any further advice, and do please let us know how you get on.
I hope everything works out for you.