Prosecution

[trainstationqu]

Hi. I have been given a letter my Thameslink saying they intent to prosecute for me not being able to produce a valid ticket.

I had a ticket from A to B. I was stopped at B saying I hadn’t scanned my ticket at the barriers at station A and hence there’s no way she can determine that’s where I got on. She took down my addresss and details and everything and I got the letter intending to prosecute today with the option to give my version of events.

I’ve sent it explaining that I usually travel to work by car but on some occasions I get the train. On these instances I stay at my friends house who drops me off and I can get the train from A. The ticket wasn’t scanned as the barrier didn’t open my ticket and I showed it to the instructor who then let me through without scanning it.

How likely am I to get prosecuted or will I be fined? How likely are they to believe my version of events or will they check CCTV etc. If they look there other tickets brought from the same destinations however they were all paper tickets but still bought from the app.

I’m in the medical profession so any criminal record will have an impact on my career. Should I get a solicitor before I hear from them just in case it does go to court?

I am extremely worried

 

[island]

If the case went to court, would your friend be willing to attend court and give a statement under oath that they drove you to that station on that date?

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi. I have been given a letter my Thameslink saying they intent to prosecute for me not being able to produce a valid ticket.

I had a ticket from A to B. I was stopped at B saying I hadn’t scanned my ticket at the barriers at station A and hence there’s no way she can determine that’s where I got on. She took down my addresss and details and everything and I got the letter intending to prosecute today with the option to give my version of events.

I’ve sent it explaining that I usually travel to work by car but on some occasions I get the train. On these instances I stay at my friends house who drops me off and I can get the train from A. The ticket wasn’t scanned as the barrier didn’t open my ticket and I showed it to the instructor who then let me through without scanning it.

How likely am I to get prosecuted or will I be fined? How likely are they to believe my version of events or will they check CCTV etc. If they look there other tickets brought from the same destinations however they were all paper tickets but still bought from the app.

I’m in the medical profession so any criminal record will have an impact on my career. Should I get a solicitor before I hear from them just in case it does go to court?

I am extremely worried

It will help us to know what station A and station B are, for a start.

 

[John R]

I’ve sent it explaining that I usually travel to work by car but on some occasions I get the train. On these instances I stay at my friends house who drops me off and I can get the train from A. The ticket wasn’t scanned as the barrier didn’t open my ticket and I showed it to the instructor who then let me through without scanning it.

We often hear journey descriptions like this, and in most cases, they prove to be lies to try and cover for short faring. So you will certainly have your work cut out trying to persuade the investigators that your story is true. It will be particularly difficult if none of your other tickets from A have been scanned either, nor any returning to A in the evening.

 

[dciuk]

will they check CCTV etc

Probably not, but if you think it would prove that you did start your journey at that station you could request it, however depending on how long ago this happened it might no longer exist. I think they only tend to keep it for about 4 weeks.