Intention to Prosecute Letter

[Rosco3451]

Hello everyone,

I received an intention to prosecute letter after I got on a train from Finsbury Park to Stevenage and didn’t purchase a ticket. I had a valid ticket from Moorgate to Finsbury Park but hadn’t purchased my other ticket yet. I wanted to go to Biggleswade but the Peterborough line kept getting delayed so I just jumped onto the one to Stevange as my mum works there and purchased a ticket as soon as I got on the train (I know that’s not valid but I didn’t have time)

If I’m being completely honest I have not gotten a ticket quite a few times from Finsbury Park to Biggleswade because I haven’t always been able to afford it. I know that’s not an excuse but it’s the truth and I go there for work. I have been caught with a fine once this year and once last year and then got the witness statement receipt in June. I really really don’t want to go to court and want to settle this outside of court. I’m so ashamed and just want this to be over. Please could I have some advice on what to write on the letter?

I just graduated last year and I have got a good starting out job in clinical research and really don’t want to affect my career.

So please can I have some advice on how to handle this?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Nov 2025 ==

This is what I’m considering putting:

Dear Sir/ Madam,



I am writing in response to your letter of Intention to Prosecute dated 04th November 2025 Reference: GTREMG000879321



On the 17th of June on the train from Finsbury Park to Stevenage I failed to hand over a ticket for inspection. When I got to Finsbury Park from Moorgate with a valid ticket I hadn’t purchased my second ticket to Biggleswade as intended. The Peterborough line had delays and the Finsbury Park to Stevenage train arrived so I got on that instead and purchased a ticket as soon as I got on the train. I know this means the ticket is not valid for the journey I had taken and I apologise for this very poor judgement and deeply regret my actions. I now realise the severity of this and understand the great cost this is to the rail industry and how unjust it is to other rail travellers. I am really ashamed of myself.



I have learnt my lesson and will always get the correct ticket before boarding the train I intend to take.



I am keen to settle the matter without the need for court action. I ask if I can please pay the outstanding fare along with the train companies administrative costs in dealing with the matter.



Thank you,

Let me know what you think

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hello everyone,

I received an intention to prosecute letter after I got on a train from Finsbury Park to Stevenage and didn’t purchase a ticket. I had a valid ticket from Moorgate to Finsbury Park but hadn’t purchased my other ticket yet. I wanted to go to Biggleswade but the Peterborough line kept getting delayed so I just jumped onto the one to Stevange as my mum works there and purchased a ticket as soon as I got on the train (I know that’s not valid but I didn’t have time)

If I’m being completely honest I have not gotten a ticket quite a few times from Finsbury Park to Biggleswade because I haven’t always been able to afford it. I know that’s not an excuse but it’s the truth and I go there for work. I have been caught with a fine once this year and once last year and then got the witness statement receipt in June. I really really don’t want to go to court and want to settle this outside of court. I’m so ashamed and just want this to be over. Please could I have some advice on what to write on the letter?

I just graduated last year and I have got a good starting out job in clinical research and really don’t want to affect my career.

So please can I have some advice on how to handle this?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Nov 2025 ==

This is what I’m considering putting:

Dear Sir/ Madam,



I am writing in response to your letter of Intention to Prosecute dated 04th November 2025 Reference: GTREMG000879321



On the 17th of June on the train from Finsbury Park to Stevenage I failed to hand over a ticket for inspection. When I got to Finsbury Park from Moorgate with a valid ticket I hadn’t purchased my second ticket to Biggleswade as intended. The Peterborough line had delays and the Finsbury Park to Stevenage train arrived so I got on that instead and purchased a ticket as soon as I got on the train. I know this means the ticket is not valid for the journey I had taken and I apologise for this very poor judgement and deeply regret my actions. I now realise the severity of this and understand the great cost this is to the rail industry and how unjust it is to other rail travellers. I am really ashamed of myself.



I have learnt my lesson and will always get the correct ticket before boarding the train I intend to take.



I am keen to settle the matter without the need for court action. I ask if I can please pay the outstanding fare along with the train companies administrative costs in dealing with the matter.



Thank you,

Let me know what you think

Welcome to the forum.

What you're planning on sending will probably be good enough, in that GTR (the railway company that you are dealing with) are generally happy to settle out of court. But bear in mind that what they want to get out of the process is a guarantee that you will always pay the right fare in future, so that (a) they get the fare you should pay and (b) they don't have the expense of checking on you on every occasion. In my view you are very close to the point where saying 'sorry' and paying up won't be good enough: GTR are likely to notice now or soon that despite being caught before you're still not paying the right fare. And when they notice that, they will decide that only being taken to court and getting a criminal record along with a fine will teach you the importance of doing the right thing. They may even have noticed that already.

So it's really important that you stop fare dodging right now. That doesn't just mean paying the right fare: it means paying it before you get on the train. If you start behaving yourself now, you may get lucky and not be taken to court. If you don't, then eventually that will be what happens. As you seem to be worried about the impact of a conviction on your career, change your behaviour to minimise the risk of a conviction.

 

[Rosco3451]

Welcome to the forum.

What you're planning on sending will probably be good enough, in that GTR (the railway company that you are dealing with) are generally happy to settle out of court. But bear in mind that what they want to get out of the process is a guarantee that you will always pay the right fare in future, so that (a) they get the fare you should pay and (b) they don't have the expense of checking on you on every occasion. In my view you are very close to the point where saying 'sorry' and paying up won't be good enough: GTR are likely to notice now or soon that despite being caught before you're still not paying the right fare. And when they notice that, they will decide that only being taken to court and getting a criminal record along with a fine will teach you the importance of doing the right thing. They may even have noticed that already.

So it's really important that you stop fare dodging right now. That doesn't just mean paying the right fare: it means paying it before you get on the train. If you start behaving yourself now, you may get lucky and not be taken to court. If you don't, then eventually that will be what happens. As you seem to be worried about the impact of a conviction on your career, change your behaviour to minimise the risk of a conviction.

Thank you so much for your response, ever since an incident in September I have only paid the full ticket and haven’t dodged any journeys. Although in early September I really stupidly got caught again and got handed another witness statement receipt. Do you think this will affect their overall decision? It was such a stupid thing I did and honestly ever since I have paid the full price

 

[John R]

Although in early September I really stupidly got caught again and got handed another witness statement receipt. Do you think this will affect their overall decision? It was such a stupid thing I did and honestly ever since I have paid the full price

OK, well that's a bit of a drip feed...

GTR is known for being pretty good in terms of offering settlements, but my goodness, you are really testing their patience. You may want to refer to the second incident too, as the risk is that they will settle with you for the first, and then a couple of months later work on the second, and notice that they have already offered one settlement.

As an aside, if you have a "good starting out job", how come you plead you cannot afford the fares? Is it a question of prioritisation of expenditure, with discretional spend maybe needing to take less priority over essential needs (which includes commuting fares)?

 

[Rosco3451]

OK, well that's a bit of a drip feed...

GTR is known for being pretty good in terms of offering settlements, but my goodness, you are really testing their patience. You may want to refer to the second incident too, as the risk is that they will settle with you for the first, and then a couple of months later work on the second, and notice that they have already offered one settlement.

As an aside, if you have a "good starting out job", how come you plead you cannot afford the fares? Is it a question of prioritisation of expenditure, with discretional spend maybe needing to take less priority over essential needs (which includes commuting fares)?

I know and I feel really ashamed about it, if I settle this one and they see another but I have paid the full tickets ever since will they still want to take me to court?

Yes it was due to me getting out of my overdraft from university and not prioritising my commuting as much as getting out of debt which i know is incorrect of me

 

[SuspectUsual]

You may want to refer to the second incident too, as the risk is that they will settle with you for the first, and then a couple of months later work on the second, and notice that they have already offered one settlement

I think this is sound advice. We normally advise against self incrimination when we know there are further offences but the train company haven’t yet done the research and found it. This is different, you know they know

 

[John R]

I know and I feel really ashamed about it, if I settle this one and they see another but I have paid the full tickets ever since will they still want to take me to court?

I don't think we can say with any certainty what they might do.

 

[Rosco3451]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to say thank you for the advice and to let you know I got legal help and settled both cases without court

 

[John R]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to say thank you for the advice and to let you know I got legal help and settled both cases without court

Thank you for the update. It’s always appreciated when people let us know the outcome.

Would you be willing to let us know who you used, and what the eventual cost was in terms of fares avoided, admin fee, and legal fees?

 

[Rosco3451]

Yes of course. I used aletta shaw Solicitors and they were amazing. The total cost for the solicitor was £399 + VAT. I had to provide a document of every time I had short ticketed to Thames link and pay the difference. this total came to just over £3.5k as they charge full ticket not railcard. Safe to say I have learnt my lesson. Just so happy I didn’t have to face court

 

[John R]

Thanks, that’s very helpful. I don’t recall seeing that firm being mentioned before, and at 399+ VAT it’s certainly at the low end of what we see quoted.

Glad you could get it all resolved, albeit at a price.

 

[ghghghgh]

Did u HAve pay that amount straight away or was there a payment plan option available?

 

[ic31420]

You struggled to afford tickets but could cough up £4k for settlement and solicitor....

Please never get caught again.... Ever... That won't end well.

*I'm not being unkind just looking at it how a fraud team or, prosecutor or court.... may.