Thameslink prosecution

[ghghghgh]

Hi all,

I’ve received an Intention to Prosecute letter from Thameslink regarding an incident in where I did not hold a valid ticket. I want to respond properly, but I’m unsure how much information I should include or how to respond.

I have been caught for not having a valid ticket in the past with thameslink and had to pay for pentalty fare which was printed by the inpector.However in this occasion I had shown a ticket on the day which was already used and for a different stop so I and had my details taken by the inspector but no ticket. and was told I’d be contacted by post. I have received an Intention to Prosecute letter from Thameslink regarding the incident today.


Some people have mentioned that the rail company may look at Trainline history when assessing cases. In my situation, I’m not sure whether I should provide a detailed breakdown of my past travel history, as there have been instances where I short fared or should I Avoid self-incrimination.

Could anyone advise on:

Whether it is necessary (or sensible) to provide spreadsheets or summaries of past journeys?

Whether rail companies usually request or check TfL travel history?

What level of detail is appropriate to include in my response without making things worse?

Any advice from people familiar with these situations would be appreciated. I’m quite stressed about this situation and have gone through alot of personal circumstances and don’t have support from family I would appreciate any hope or advise given in a respectful manner as I really don’t want a criminal record. I also cannot afford to have a solicitor and don’t want to put myself in debt paying for one.

 

[z444z]

The TfL travel history is an interesting question - I don’t recall seeing a case here where this has happened, but I could be wrong. It’s almost guaranteed that they’ll check your ticket purchasing history, but far less likely that they’ll check TfL travel history unless you were using contactless/Oyster when caught.

It might be a good idea to calculate yourself how much they might think you owe, but the usual advice is to not incriminate yourself while also avoiding lies (such as saying it was your first offence or a mistake). You shouldn’t need to give them a spreadsheet, more often they’ll send you one. Let them present you with the evidence, don’t do the work for them (they aren’t gonna discount the admin fee to thank you!)

 

[notmyrealname]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

The gurus should be along later and it will help them to advise you if you show us the letter you've received and paperwork you were given on the day you were stopped, if there was any. Be sure to cover up your personal details and any reference numbers, to keep this anonymous.

 

[SussexMan]

You have previously travelled without a valid ticket and been given a Penalty Fare but clearly this was insufficient to dissuade you from continuing to commit criminal acts of not paying the correct fare. You maybe stressed about the situation but you have created the problem yourself. Having said that, why would you incriminate yourself? The general advice is not to do this but if you feel it would relieve your stress and allow you to "start afresh" with a clean conscience, then may be that would be a good thing to do for your mental health. If your ticket purchasing history is trackable by Thameslink (i.e. you bought your tickets via an online account) they are probably going to find them.

It is very likely that they would agree to an out-of-court settlement but only you know roughly how much you have avoided by not paying the correct fares. I see absolutely no reason to involve a solicitor. What is important is that you engage with them.

 

[ghghghgh]

Thank you for your response. i have attached these below. Pls let me know if u need anything else

 

[30907]

This looks straightforward, and a letter of apology on the lines frequently posted by member Hadders (and quoted on at least one current thread, use the search icon top right) should achieve the best possible result, but you must expect GTR to base their offer based on their search. Don't at this stage mention other incidents.

If, as you say, you presented an invalid ticket, they will be aware that it was a deliberate act on your part.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you for your response. i have attached these below. Pls let me know if u need anything else View attachment 192571View attachment 192572View attachment 192573View attachment 192574View attachment 192575View attachment 192573

Just to try and get back to you on your key question*.

You've probably seen it already but the general advice given here is along these lines:

When you receive the letter post a redacted copy of it in this thread, along with your draft reply and forum members will proof read it for you. You'll find lots of example letters you can use in this section of the forum but the reply basically needs to mention:

- That you are sorry for what has happened
- What you have learned from the incident and will not do this again
- That you are keen to settle the matter without the need for court action
- Offer to pay the outstanding fare and the railway company’s administrative costs in dealing with the matter

The railway will probably offer you an out of court settlement. Expect to have to pay the cost of the fare for the journey you made at the full Anytime rate with no credit given for the invalid ticket you purchased. In addition they will charge an admin fee, typically £150. They will also audit your online ticket purchase history and if this shows you've purchased other tickets that were not valid (eg railcard discounted tickets when you did not have a valid railcard, or tickets for only par of the journey, or tickets bought after boarding the train you travelled on ) they will probably factor the cost of these journeys into the settlement offer. Depending on how many journeys you've made over the period concerned this could end up being expensive.

Settlements usually have to be paid in full within a few days of them being offered so if money is tight you might want to think about how you will raise the sum required at short notice.

So hope that helps you get going with your draft reply

When you post it off to them keep a copy of everything and post it tracked postage from a post office so you can prove they received it if you need to.

* your key question is about mentioning the other occasions - so to turn to that

- You know how much other evasion you committed (no need to state it here)
- they know you had a Penalty Fare (that looks like it didn't teach you a lesson to change your ways and you regarded the £50 concerned as the 'price of occasionally getting caught'
- you have to assume they might also have already checked all of your on line purchase history (as an aside it looks like some train companies (west midlands trains comes to mind) now seem to check the records of everyone who gets issued a Penalty Fare going back via possibly automated data searches over years before and then write separately about those.....

so in a way it comes down to your phrasing

you either

- are straight up about it (but keep it non precise at this stage I suspect) so eg would include in your response that primarily addresses the occasion you were stopped something like 'I regret to say this has happened on other occasions but I am anxious to resolve the matter without court action and would like to pay any fares that t I owe' (or some such wording)

or

you don't get into the other occasions at this stage but use a wording that could be interpreted either way and certainly can not be interpreted as claiming it's only ever happened once

eg things like 'I regret that I did indeed not have a valid ticket when I was stopped and questioned' (something they already know and you probably admitted when stopped anyway) and 'I am anxious to resolve the matter without court action and would like to pay what I owe' (spot the difference, better wording is possible I'm sure).

Form what we see on here when they have detected multiple evasion and people reply like the latter option they respond and basically say along the lines of they want to discuss other occasions - but then that can then be taken forward from there (can't immediately find an example to link to but have certainly seen it on several Thameslink cases in the past)

It's your choice. The first might resolve it more quickly but it is strictly speaking self incriminating which the forum often advises against.

If you get to work on your draft response and post it here (if you wish) people will then check it for you if you think that would help.

 

[ghghghgh]

Thank you all for your responses. I’m unsure how much detail I should include in my response. I don’t know whether I need to explain my whole day and how my journey started, or if I should only talk about the point when I was stopped. I’m concerned about mentioning anything that could unintentionally incriminate me.

When I was stopped, I explained that I had boarded the wrong train, which is why I didn’t have a valid ticket. However, the ticket inspector didn’t seem to believe this. She took my address, and because I live in the area( Royston) , she may have assumed I was travelling there intentionally. I’m not sure what she wrote down,and don’t think she mentioned that as it isn’t on the paper issued to me but she ended up issuing me a ticket to Royston rather than the area I mentioned

After she gave me the ticket receipt she said if you still want to go to the place you mentioned then get a ticket from Royston to the place you mentioned.i did get one and buy one using money I asked from a friend after on the Trainline app but I felt anxious and had a panic attack I just went home and didn’t use that ticket which I brought.
Also She didn’t take a picture of the ticket just saw it it was invalid and ask me questions then only took a picture of my railcard which isn’t expired and is upto date.

I aplogise if I’m not making sense or need to clarify anything I have learning disability so it’s hard for me to communicate and also remember exactly what happened.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Thank you for your response. i have attached these below. Pls let me know if u need anything else View attachment 192572View attachment 192573View attachment 192574View attachment 192575View attachment 192573

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Thank you for your response. i have attached these below. Pls let me know if u need anything else View attachment 192572View attachment 192573View attachment 192574View attachment 192575View attachment 192573

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

i aslo wanted to ask does anyone know how to edit a message for example the images threads or can i not do that here.

 

[notmyrealname]

I don't know if it's a function of how long you've been here to be able to edit, but if I look at a previous post of mine there is Edit on the bottom left of my message.

If you can't see this, you need to hit Report at the bottom of your post and ask the mods to do it.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you all for your responses. I’m unsure how much detail I should include in my response. I don’t know whether I need to explain my whole day and how my journey started, or if I should only talk about the point when I was stopped. I’m concerned about mentioning anything that could unintentionally incriminate me.

When I was stopped, I explained that I had boarded the wrong train, which is why I didn’t have a valid ticket. However, the ticket inspector didn’t seem to believe this. She took my address, and because I live in the area( Royston) , she may have assumed I was travelling there intentionally. I’m not sure what she wrote down,and don’t think she mentioned that as it isn’t on the paper issued to me but she ended up issuing me a ticket to Royston rather than the area I mentioned

After she gave me the ticket receipt she said if you still want to go to the place you mentioned then get a ticket from Royston to the place you mentioned.i did get one and buy one using money I asked from a friend after on the Trainline app but I felt anxious and had a panic attack I just went home and didn’t use that ticket which I brought.
Also She didn’t take a picture of the ticket just saw it it was invalid and ask me questions then only took a picture of my railcard which isn’t expired and is upto date.

I aplogise if I’m not making sense or need to clarify anything I have learning disability so it’s hard for me to communicate and also remember exactly what happened.

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== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

i aslo wanted to ask does anyone know how to edit a message for example the images threads or can i not do that here.

You don’t need to explain your whole day / journey etc with a lot of detail. you need to cover why you didn’t have a valid ticket as briefly as possible. 2 or 3 sentences at most or even none at all and just apologise for that and for the error of judgement that it involved.

The standard letter they send is one that is offering the opportunity for someone who had a genuine reason to be without a valid ticket to explain in mitigation. But in your case you need to use it as an opportunity to request they are sympathetic enough to offer you the chance to resolve things without prosecution.

So to be blunt -
Do you have any such genuine reason ?

Or did you just not have the correct ticket because you thought you’d be able to save some money and get away with it? If so, don’t state that just apologise and make it clear you understand it’s wrong not to travel without a valid ticket and you will not let it happen again, but you would like to pay what you owe, their costs of investigation if they are kind enough to allow the matter to be resolved out of court.

Just try and get a draft down and then post it here so people can help you get it as good as it can be. Lots of other threads with examples of what people typically write.

 

[ghghghgh]

Thank you for the advice. I have managed to draft a letter and kept it concise I’m unsure if it’s good or wether I should Add more detail.pls do let me kno if anything would need improvement as a have really bad learning disabilities.

Thank you


Dear Govia Thameslink Team,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain my actions relating to the incident that took place on …..

I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions on that day and for the time and administrative work this matter has caused your team. I understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and the wider impact that fare issues have on rail services.

On that day, I boarded a train from Cambridge with the intention of travelling to Royston. When I was approached by the inspector at Royston, I was unable to produce a ticket that was valid for that journey.Although I was experiencing financial difficulties and personal constraints at the time, I understand that this does not excuse or justify my actions.

I fully accept that ensuring I had the correct ticket was my responsibility, and I regret not checking this properly before travelling. I deeply regret my actions and I am committed to ensuring that this does not happen again.

I would be grateful if the matter could be settled without court action. I am willing to cooperate fully and pay any reasonable costs or outstanding fares to resolve this matter. I understand the seriousness of the situation and would be extremely grateful if you could consider this an oversight. I am currently dealing with a medical condition and significant mental health challenges, which have left me without employment or support. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and consideration.

Furthermore as a recent graduate, a criminal conviction or court action would have a serious impact on my future. It could affect my ability to apply for graduate roles, training programmes, and professional opportunities that require background checks. I have worked hard to complete my studies and begin building my career, and I deeply regret that my actions have put this at risk.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my response.

Kind regards,

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Thank you for the advice. I have managed to draft a letter and kept it concise I’m unsure if it’s good or wether I should Add more detail.pls do let me kno if anything would need improvement as a have really bad learning disabilities.

Thank you


Dear Govia Thameslink Team,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain my actions relating to the incident that took place on …..

I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions on that day and for the time and administrative work this matter has caused your team. I understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and the wider impact that fare issues have on rail services.

On that day, I boarded a train from Cambridge with the intention of travelling to Royston. When I was approached by the inspector at Royston, I was unable to produce a ticket that was valid for that journey.Although I was experiencing financial difficulties and personal constraints at the time, I understand that this does not excuse or justify my actions.

I fully accept that ensuring I had the correct ticket was my responsibility, and I regret not checking this properly before travelling. I deeply regret my actions and I am committed to ensuring that this does not happen again.

I would be grateful if the matter could be settled without court action. I am willing to cooperate fully and pay any reasonable costs or outstanding fares to resolve this matter. I understand the seriousness of the situation and would be extremely grateful if you could consider this an oversight. I am currently dealing with a medical condition and significant mental health challenges, which have left me without employment or support. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and consideration.

Furthermore as a recent graduate, a criminal conviction or court action would have a serious impact on my future. It could affect my ability to apply for graduate roles, training programmes, and professional opportunities that require background checks. I have worked hard to complete my studies and begin building my career, and I deeply regret that my actions have put this at risk.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my response.

Kind regards,

I think that's fine. It's not so short that the railway won't think that you're taking the matter seriously, nor so long that they'll get bored before getting to the end. You chow that you're sorry, and you offer to pay what you should plus costs.

So get it off to the railway, and then you will have to wait to see what their response is.

 

[ghghghgh]

Thank you all for your responses. I’m unsure how much detail I should include in my response. I don’t know whether I need to explain my whole day and how my journey started, or if I should only talk about the point when I was stopped. I’m concerned about mentioning anything that could unintentionally incriminate me.

When I was stopped, I explained that I had boarded the wrong train, which is why I didn’t have a valid ticket. However, the ticket inspector didn’t seem to believe this. She took my address, and because I live in the area( Royston) , she may have assumed I was travelling there intentionally. I’m not sure what she wrote down,and don’t think she mentioned that as it isn’t on the paper issued to me but she ended up issuing me a ticket to Royston rather than the area I mentioned

After she gave me the ticket receipt she said if you still want to go to the place you mentioned then get a ticket from Royston to the place you mentioned.i did get one and buy one using money I asked from a friend after on the Trainline app but I felt anxious and had a panic attack I just went home and didn’t use that ticket which I brought.
Also She didn’t take a picture of the ticket just saw it it was invalid and ask me questions then only took a picture of my railcard which isn’t expired and is upto date.

I aplogise if I’m not making sense or need to clarify anything I have learning disability so it’s hard for me to communicate and also remember exactly what happened.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

i aslo wanted to ask does anyone know how to edit a message for example the images threads or can i not do that here.

Should I speak about this and the interaction with the inspector

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Should I speak about this and the interaction with the inspector

No. I know it will be disappointing to discover that you're not a special case - but you're not. You are one of many people who are caught without the right ticket, and so you will be dealt with in the same way as everyone else. Whoever deals with your case will probably not have the authority to let things go: instead, the choice they will have will be to
- allow you to settle out of court, or
- to send the matter to prosecution

As you've asked for the matter to be settled out of court, I don't see any benefit in raising points that won't make that amy more (or less) likely.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you for the advice. I have managed to draft a letter and kept it concise I’m unsure if it’s good or wether I should Add more detail.pls do let me kno if anything would need improvement as a have really bad learning disabilities.

Thank you


Dear Govia Thameslink Team,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain my actions relating to the incident that took place on …..

I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions on that day and for the time and administrative work this matter has caused your team. I understand the importance of travelling with the correct ticket and the wider impact that fare issues have on rail services.

On that day, I boarded a train from Cambridge with the intention of travelling to Royston. When I was approached by the inspector at Royston, I was unable to produce a ticket that was valid for that journey.Although I was experiencing financial difficulties and personal constraints at the time, I understand that this does not excuse or justify my actions.

I fully accept that ensuring I had the correct ticket was my responsibility, and I regret not checking this properly before travelling. I deeply regret my actions and I am committed to ensuring that this does not happen again.

I would be grateful if the matter could be settled without court action. I am willing to cooperate fully and pay any reasonable costs or outstanding fares to resolve this matter. I understand the seriousness of the situation and would be extremely grateful if you could consider this an oversight. I am currently dealing with a medical condition and significant mental health challenges, which have left me without employment or support. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and consideration.

Furthermore as a recent graduate, a criminal conviction or court action would have a serious impact on my future. It could affect my ability to apply for graduate roles, training programmes, and professional opportunities that require background checks. I have worked hard to complete my studies and begin building my career, and I deeply regret that my actions have put this at risk.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my response.

Kind regards,

My tip - perhaps swap this bit until the end (well just before the 'thank you for considering....")

I would be grateful if the matter could be settled without court action. I am willing to cooperate fully and pay any reasonable costs or outstanding fares to resolve this matter. I understand the seriousness of the situation and would be extremely grateful if you could consider this an oversight. I am currently dealing with a medical condition and significant mental health challenges, which have left me without employment or support. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and consideration.

A busy person reading a letter will skim to the end - you want them to end on what your most important request is - and your most important request is settling this out of court. That's the key thing you want them to know you are keen to do - so in my view leave that in the mind of the reader.

 

[ghghghgh]

Thank you I appreciated it I wanted to ask wether I send a picture or scan of my railcard. Also do I have to send this by post or can I send via email.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Thank you I appreciated it I wanted to ask wether I send a picture or scan of my railcard. Also do I have to send this by post or can I send via email.

As you didn't have a Railcard valid for the ticket you bought, there's no point in sending a picture of what you do have. And the letter doesn't offer an email address, so you will have to do this by post.

 

[ghghghgh]

As you didn't have a Railcard valid for the ticket you bought, there's no point in sending a picture of what you do have. And the letter doesn't offer an email address, so you will have to do this by post.

Oh no. My railcard was valid and still is valid it isn’t expired. it’s connected to the Trainline app it’s just the ticket which I had was not valid.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Oh no. My railcard was valid and still is valid it isn’t expired. it’s connected to the Trainline app it’s just the ticket which I had was not valid.

OK. If you think it will help, send it in.

The really important thing is to get a reply back to the railway. It's good if it's right, but it doesn't have to be perfect. So get it sent off!

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you I appreciated it I wanted to ask wether I send a picture or scan of my railcard. Also do I have to send this by post or can I send via email.

Post it tracked postage from a post office so you can prove it got to them if you needed to.

Ensure your reference number is on every page.

Keep a copy of everything you send.

 

[ghghghgh]

Hello, I just wanted to provide an update regarding my situation. I have now received a Single Justice Procedure Notice and I am unsure how best to proceed. As I mentioned previously, I am a recent graduate and I am extremely concerned about the potential impact of a criminal conviction on my future career.


I was wondering if anyone knows whether it is possible to resolve this matter out of court without instructing a solicitor, and whether anyone has had success doing so. Unfortunately, I do not have significant savings to cover legal fees, so any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Hello, I just wanted to provide an update regarding my situation. I have now received a Single Justice Procedure Notice and I am unsure how best to proceed. As I mentioned previously, I am a recent graduate and I am extremely concerned about the potential impact of a criminal conviction on my future career.


I was wondering if anyone knows whether it is possible to resolve this matter out of court without instructing a solicitor, and whether anyone has had success doing so. Unfortunately, I do not have significant savings to cover legal fees, so any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Ok. First question - when do you need to respond to the SJPN by?

While what is possible varies by the company you are dealing with (and sorry, I haven't yet read back through the thread) the time available can also make a difference.

 

[ghghghgh]

Ok. First question - when do you need to respond to the SJPN by?

While what is possible varies by the company you are dealing with (and sorry, I haven't yet read back through the thread) the time available can also make a difference.

Thank you so much for your fast reply. So the company is thameslink and I have 21 days to respond from the 24 th of December. Sorry I don’t quite understand what u mean by possible varies ( I have learning disabilities). Thank you

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Sorry I don’t quite understand what u mean by possible varies ( I have learning disabilities). Thank you

That was bad wording by me - sorry! What I meant was that some train companies may agree to settle out of court, but others may insist on going to court - and it's only when we know which company it is that we can use our knowledge of what they have done before.

I now see that you are dealing with GTR, who usually agree to settle out of court. You showed us the reply you meant to send: did you send it to them, and when? Did you post it to them or email it? If you posted it, did you send it by a tracked service so that you can know if it got there?

Sorry for all the questions, but GTR are normally prepared to settle out of court. I'm trying to work out if for some reason they didn't get your response, or if they're being tough on you and want to take you to court because you have been caught before.

Just one last question: could you send us the SJPN (with your name and address and so on hidden)? We don't see them very often so it would be useful to see exactly what you are being charged with, and check the return date (I am not sure if it is 21 days from when you get the SJPN, or 21 days from when the SJPN was posted to you).

 

[z444z]

This is the second case today where a SJPN has been received, both issued on the 24th of December, when our experience would suggest GTR would have been likely to settle - post going missing over the holiday period, mistakes by GTR in this batch of SJP prosecutions? Or are they just taking a harder line on these cases (this one where the OP has been stopped before, and the other involving an altered ticket)?

OP - was the letter that you sent to GTR sent by tracked postage? If so, is it marked as delivered?

If anything we say isn’t clear to you please let us know and we will do our best to clarify

 

[ghghghgh]

Thank you for your response. I appreciate it a lot. So interms of the initial letter yes I did send them what I sent here for the intention to prosecution letter I had also had the letter tracked and the letters deadline was 2 nd December and on the online tracking it showed it was delivered on the first of December.

Also yes I was previously caught with thaneslink in first yr of uni which I paid a pcn for.

I have attached below the letters sent there’s Also an additional evidence sheet which just had the ticket and my railcard picture, and there’s a mc100 sheet and frequently asked questions sheet which I couldn’t attached as I reached the limit for attachments. Thank you

 

[z444z]

I think exactly the same advice given in the thread linked below would apply to your case too. Basically, email GTR and send another letter, tracked, asking them to confirm that they received and considered your previous correspondence.

Feel free to read the whole thread if you wish, but the important stuff is from post #35 onwards.

UPDATED: Used a fake ticket and got caught

Though no doubt with the skills you have listed, you could easily have changed this a well? The actual ticket though, as in the QR/Aztec code, doesn't lie. You'll be found out and, the more you try to hide, the more intent you show, leading to the the rail company digging deeper and looking...

www.railforums.co.uk

If you’re able to, please write a draft similar to what the OP in the other thread has written, and send it here for us to check. If that’s not possible let us know and I’m sure someone can draft something for you!

 

[Haywain]

This is the second case today where a SJPN has been received, both issued on the 24th of December, when our experience would suggest GTR would have been likely to settle - post going missing over the holiday period, mistakes by GTR in this batch of SJP prosecutions? Or are they just taking a harder line on these cases (this one where the OP has been stopped before, and the other involving an altered ticket)?

They hit the 6 month limit in this case for issuing proceedings in under a week, which probably explains the SJPN being issued.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I think exactly the same advice given in the thread linked below would apply to your case too. Basically, email GTR and send another letter, tracked, asking them to confirm that they received and considered your previous correspondence.

I agree with this. But @Haywain 's comment might well be true:

They hit the 6 month limit in this case for issuing proceedings in under a week, which probably explains the SJPN being issued.

So I think you should also ask in your response if the railway would be prepared to settle this out of court. I know your original letter already says this, but I think it is worth saying it again!

 

[ghghghgh]

I think exactly the same advice given in the thread linked below would apply to your case too. Basically, email GTR and send another letter, tracked, asking them to confirm that they received and considered your previous correspondence.

Feel free to read the whole thread if you wish, but the important stuff is from post #35 onwards.

UPDATED: Used a fake ticket and got caught

Though no doubt with the skills you have listed, you could easily have changed this a well? The actual ticket though, as in the QR/Aztec code, doesn't lie. You'll be found out and, the more you try to hide, the more intent you show, leading to the the rail company digging deeper and looking...

www.railforums.co.uk

If you’re able to, please write a draft similar to what the OP in the other thread has written, and send it here for us to check. If that’s not possible let us know and I’m sure someone can draft something for you!

Hello, thank you so much for this I have come up with a draft which is;

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing regarding the fare evasion incident on 2 July 2025, for which I have received a Single Justice Procedure notice. I previously responded to the Intention to Prosecute Letter (ITPL) issued in November 2025 and have attached a copy of my response for your reference. I would like to note that I have evidence of my postal submission to demonstrate that this correspondence was sent in good faith and within the requested timeframe.

I fully acknowledge the incident and sincerely regret the circumstances. I am keen to resolve this matter promptly and am willing to pay the unpaid fares along with any associated investigation costs.

I would be grateful if you could advise whether it is possible to settle this matter administratively, without the need for further court proceedings. I would greatly appreciate your guidance on this at your earliest convenience, given the approaching deadline for the return of the court papers.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Please do let me know if there’s anything I should change.

I also wanted to ask about whether pleading guilty to this offence would result in a criminal conviction or criminal record. I understand that it is a byelaw offence, and I knew someone who was a nurse in a similar situation she pleaded guilty, received a fine, and it did not appear on her Enhanced DBS. Her case involved TfL.This was around 2-3 years ago.

I have also asked ChatGPT, which indicated that it would not appear on a DBS or enhanced DBS, but I am cautious about relying on that entirely. Does anyone know of situations where a byelaw offence like this, when pleaded guilty, has shown up on a DBS or resulted in a criminal record?

I am considering whether to involve a solicitor, but I do not have the funds, so I am trying to weigh my options carefully.

Thank you