Potential Prosecution

Passports are photo ID / proof of age. They aren't used as proof of address.

I defer to other experts, but am bemused why you didn't just hitchhike from dartford to London (or Bristol) albeit that has nothing to do with the case!

Abpj17 said:

I defer to other experts, but am bemused why you didn't just hitchhike from dartford to London (or Bristol) albeit that has nothing to do with the case!

Click to expand...

Believe me, I tried. After an hour spent either standing at the junction or asking people in a petrol station and receiving nothing other than directions to the train station or blank stares, I conceded defeat.

I've hitched around most of Europe and the UK but anywhere within the London vicinity is notoriously difficult. I once spent over five hours trying to hitch from London to Bristol and made it as far where the M4 joins the M3. After that a taxi driver took pity on me and drove me back to Victoria coach station to get a bus home.

That's not to say that it's not possible the other direction. I've hitched into London a few times and once got a lift from Stedman Pearson of Five Star fame! If anyone is wondering what became of him, he's now delivering chemicals around the London area while preparing to launch his new make-up range some point this year.

Why did you say you had come from Sidcup?

DelayRepay said:

Why did you say you had come from Sidcup?

Click to expand...

I panicked when stopped by the inspector and told him the first station I could think of.

While this might seem unrealistic, I also claimed I couldn't pay either fare or penalty fee when my wallet was in my back pocket. As I've already said, I panicked and acted stupidly and dishonestly when realising I'd done wrong. Based on how irrational my actions were, it's clear that I was pretty exhausted but that still doesn't justify it.

To say that I'm ashamed is an understatement.

Hmm. People have given you the benefit of the doubt so far, but now it's starting to get a little more serious. Surely not having funds makes things worse? If you'd been offered a PF it would be over by now - but that can't be done if you have no money.

And how does being tired make you forget where you were?!

jonmorris0844 said:

Hmm. People have given you the benefit of the doubt so far, but now it's starting to get a little more serious. Surely not having funds makes things worse? If you'd been offered a PF it would be over by now - but that can't be done if you have no money.

And how does being tired make you forget where you were?!

Click to expand...

I did have available funds and have evidence to prove it. I was offered a PF but claimed I couldn't pay it.

I have no good explanation for my actions. Nothing that I did on that day makes any sense to me... all I remember was the feeling of tiredness and wanting to go home. I was offered numerous outs and I didn't take them and I have no idea why not.

I don't think any such discussion now is going to matter very much. I think the fact that you claimed to not have the means to pay (whether genuine or false) would have been noted so this would have gone down the usual route of how such matters are dealt with. Being able to prove that you actually did have the funds is not going to play to your favour, because you either had no funds on the day, or you lied. This is how it will be viewed.

I agree that you probably acted irrationally at the time, but you may as well now go along with it, or you may find yourself in deeper trouble. Opportunist fare evasion mostly results in last-minute decisions. They are quite common and do not always have an explanation.

Unfortunately I've already sent a letter stating truthfully everything that happened on that day.

All I can do now is wait for their response and hope for the best...

Yes, I think that is all you can do now.

I am locking this thread to prevent further speculation. Let me know when you hear back from them and I will reopen the thread.