Fare dodgers hit with £12,700 in fines

Failure to buy a valid ticket, or even pay up after being issued with orders to stump up within three weeks, saw 31 illicit travellers summoned to court although none turned up to hear their fate.

The prosecutions at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court related to journeys taken in South Yorkshire, mostly in late December last year and January this year.

Fines of £7,040 and costs of £4,650 were ordered in relation to 31 unpaid fares totalling just £299.80 for which compensation was demanded.

The total included fines of £1,100 and more than £900 of associated costs handed down to five fare dodgers from the Weekender area.

The following were each fined £220 with a £34 victim surcharge and £150 costs:

Elliot Middleton (24), of North Gate, Mexborough, who was fined over an unpaid £7.70 for a journey between Swinton and Fitzwilliam in January.

Court documents stated when asked for his ticket, he had produced a child’s day single, even though he was 23.

He was told he would be reported and fined but magistrates heard the fine was still unpaid seven months on.

Andrew Miller (21), of Rotherham Road, Little Houghton, who was prosecuted over an unpaid £4.80 fare for a journey between Wombwell and Sheffield in January.

“Upon arrival at Sheffield, when an officer stopped him he tried to push past them,” said court papers.

“He produced a promise to pay voucher but had no cash to pay for a ticket.

“His details were obtained and he was advised the facts would be reported.

“Following the incident, a letter was sent to the defendant requesting an explanation, as there was no response a fixed penalty notice was then sent, this remains unpaid.”

Brian Rutherford (50), of High Street, Mexborough, who failed a buy a £5.50 ticket for his journey between Sheffield and Doncaster.

He reportedly told the conductor he “could not pay” and was given three weeks to cover the cost, but failed to do so, or to respond to reminder letters.

Forty-year-old Samuel Tasker, of School Street, Thurnscoe, who failed to pay for a £5.30 journey between Thurnscoe and Sheffield.

Kerryann Everatt (22), of Grosvenor Crescent, Warmsworth, who was travelling between Meadowhall and Doncaster on December 23 last year when she failed to provide a £5.30 valid ticket when challenged.

Rail operator Northern said “revenue protection activity” was ongoing across its network, with the dates and locations of enforcement “guided by data”.

Customer and commercial director Mark Powles said: “Customers have a duty to buy a ticket for travel before they board a train and the overwhelming majority of them do so via our app, website, ticket offices or ticket machines.

“Unfortunately, a small number of people deliberately try to ‘fare evade’ and we have a responsibility to pursue those so that fare paying passengers and taxpayers at large are not subsidising the cost of travel for those who do not pay their fare.

“The money recovered can then be reinvested in making the rail network better for all our customers including improvements to trains, stations and other passenger facilities.”