Metrolink Fine

[SussexMan]

I've been advised to plead guilty, accept the fine and take the person who's responsible for this to court privately to recoup damages.

Terrible advice but from the way you've written it, you seem to suggest you know who the other person is.

Is this connected to your other thread?

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=119527

Well is it linked to that thread?


I would have thought someone in your situation would immediately check what they were doing on the said date at the said time. Where were you? Who was with you? Were you at college, work, etc. Is it a train route you normally use or never use? How long ago did you move to the new address? You weren't by chance on the same train at the same time and a friend who you know gave your addresses were you? That would be really bad luck.

 

[Haywain]

As this case has already been to court, the timescale means that CCTV is highly unlikely to still be available. Taking account of everything the OP has told us, in instalments, my advice would be to use the services of a solicitor, rather than a legal secretary, to obtain advice as it is likely to be needed. Having said that, I am far from convinced by the story we have been given.

 

[najaB]

Having said that, I am far from convinced by the story we have been given.

Something doesn't ring true about being advised to plead guilty. Either there is more to the story or the OP has been given extremely bad advice.

 

[185]

If the OP was genuinely not there at the time, then tell the court this via a statutory declaration.

Be aware this must be truthful, as the court will certainly hold both evidence and sworn statements from transport companies which may conflict, costing a lot more in the long run.

When a TIR/MG11 is issued on the railway, it's not just a persons name and address which are written down, other things are put there too to establish a passenger's identity. Often GM Police are present with Metrolink staff making a quite watertight process.