Worried about report for prosecution

[nsy]

Hi everyone,

I’m really worried and hoping someone here can advise me on what to do.

On 29 September 2025, I was issued with a report for prosecution while travelling from London Waterloo to Southampton Central. I’m a university student, and I had a valid return ticket — it was for the 19:00 train, but my plans changed and I got on the 17:35 instead. I honestly thought my return ticket would be valid for any train that day, so it was a genuine mistake on my part.

When the officer took my details, I realised the address they had was my old student accommodation, which I no longer live at. I told the officer straight away, and she said she would note a preference for them to contact me by email instead. However, it’s now been a while and I still haven’t received any email or letter, so I’m starting to panic a bit — I’m worried something might have gone to the wrong address and I’ve missed an important deadline to respond.

I’ve read that these things can sometimes lead to a criminal record, and I’m terrified that this could affect my future career.
Could anyone please advise:

• How long it usually takes for a letter or email to arrive after being reported?
• Should I try to contact South Western Railway’s prosecutions team now to give them my updated address, or wait to be contacted first?
• And most importantly, is there still a chance to settle this out of court so it doesn’t end up as a criminal conviction?

I’d be really grateful for any guidance or reassurance. I’ve never been in any kind of trouble before, and this has been hanging over me for weeks.
Thank you for your time.

 

[FenMan]

First things first, exactly what ticket were you using?

The return portion of a period return? If so, which type?
An Advance ticket? i.e. for the booked train only.

 

[nsy]

First things first, exactly what ticket were you using?

The return portion of a period return? If so, which type?
An Advance ticket? i.e. for the booked train only.

My return ticket is an advance single one

 

[FenMan]

My return ticket is an advance single one

An Advance ticket is for the booked train only, ergo your ticket was not valid for the 1735 train.

I strongly recommend you do not maintain the line of argument that you were genuinely not aware of the well-publicised restrictions that apply to Advance single tickets. SWR are unlikely to believe you.

Fortunately for you, based upon what I've seen in this sub-forum, SWR tend not to prosecute if you are cooperative, suitably apologetic and have not come to their attention before. However they will require you to pay the full undiscounted fare due plus an amount to cover the cost of their investigation. This would be an out of court settlement so you would not have a criminal record.

I suggest that when you receive their letter you head back here for more advice.

 

[nsy]

Alright, thank you so much for the advice. But they will email me right? I don't live at that address anymore and the officer entered an email preference for me.

An Advance ticket is for the booked train only, ergo your ticket was not valid for the 1735 train.

I strongly recommend you do not maintain the line of argument that you were genuinely not aware of the well-publicised restrictions that apply to Advance single tickets. SWR are unlikely to believe you.

Fortunately for you, based upon what I've seen in this sub-forum, SWR tend not to prosecute if you are cooperative, suitably apologetic and have not come to their attention before. However they will require you to pay the full undiscounted fare due plus an amount to cover the cost of their investigation. This would be an out of court settlement so you would not have a criminal record.

I suggest that when you receive their letter you head back here for more advice.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Oct 2025 ==

Alright, thank you so much for the advice. But they will email me right? I don't live at that address anymore and the officer entered an email preference for me.

and how long would it approximately take for the notice to arrive? Should I contact them if I haven't heard from them for a certain period of time?

 

[FenMan]

Alright, thank you so much for the advice. But they will email me right? I don't live at that address anymore and the officer entered an email preference for me.

and how long would it approximately take for the notice to arrive? Should I contact them if I haven't heard from them for a certain period of time?

They will contact you using the method advised at the time.

The letter may take a while to arrive - it could be several weeks or even months. It depends on their workload. Do not contact them in the meantime.

 

[Watershed]

I strongly recommend you arrange Royal Mail redirection just in case they send you a letter to that old address anyway. Yes, it costs a little bit but it's good practice anyway when you move, to prevent letters from getting delivered to an old address which could lead to fraud/identity theft if the new occupants are unscrupulous types.

I also suggest you update your driving licence, if that's where they got your old address from. It's an offence not to do so, albeit one that is very rarely prosecuted.

 

[Titfield]

On the London Waterloo - Weymouth service SWR make a very comprehensive announcement "on train" immediately prior to departure that advance tickets are only valid for the specific service stated on the ticket.

The Guard also states that they will be walking through the train checking tickets, passes and railcards and where they (the guard) can be found if there are any queries.

SWR have also improved their website to highlight ticket type restrictions.

A defence based on "not knowing" is very unlikely to be accepted or believed.

As a regular on this service I have to say SWR seem to have upped their game considerably over the last few months in terms of communicating fare restrictions and undertaking revenue protection.

 

[185143]

On the London Waterloo - Weymouth service SWR make a very comprehensive announcement "on train" immediately prior to departure that advance tickets are only valid for the specific service stated on the ticket.

The Guard also states that they will be walking through the train checking tickets, passes and railcards and where they (the guard) can be found if there are any queries.

SWR have also improved their website to highlight ticket type restrictions.

A defence based on "not knowing" is very unlikely to be accepted or believed.

As a regular on this service I have to say SWR seem to have upped their game considerably over the last few months in terms of communicating fare restrictions and undertaking revenue prprotection.

To be fair, the majority of tickets sadly are sold on Trainline.

So most people won't see what SWR put on their website sadly.

Audio and visual announcements on the train will more than cover it though.

 

[SussexMan]

When the officer took my details, I realised the address they had was my old student accommodation, which I no longer live at. I told the officer straight away...

Please can you explain this statement as I don't understand it.

It reads as though they already knew your address which can't be right. Alternatively it reads as though you gave them your old address and then told them that wasn't your address.

If you told them straight away, are you suggesting that they refused to take down your correct address?

 

[Kite159]

To be fair, the majority of tickets sadly are sold on Trainline.

So most people won't see what SWR put on their website sadly.

Audio and visual announcements on the train will more than cover it though.

And sadly there are some passengers who don't realise that Trainline is selling them an advance ticket (or in some cases selling them a split ticket without telling the passenger they need to be on a train which calls at the split station).

 

[WesternLancer]

You could contact the swr prosecutions office by post or e mail and quote your ref number and advise them of your correct postal address for any communication and also request contact by email. Might work and would not do any harm.