£408 fine for a £4.20 ticket

[Puffing Devil]

To be clear, the SD is only necessary if you have been convicted in court without you having been notified of the proceedings. You need to check that out.



You do not need legal assistance to perform an SD. If you perform it in court the court's Legal Advisor will see you through the process. You will need to complete this form:

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F973786%2Ftsm001-eng.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

All the process involves is simply swearing on oath that you knew nothing of the proceedings which led to your conviction.



Solicitors can actually hear your SD. They usually charge a nominal fee (perhaps £5-£10). The problem with this is that you will then have to deliver the completed document to the court. Better to make your SD at the court if you can.

In almost all cases it is better to have a Solicitor hear your Statutory Declaration: Courts will generally set a time to come in and make the declaration when the relevant prosecutor is in court then look to immediately re-open and hear the case there and then.

For the small fee and the inconvenience of posting recorded delivery, this buys valuable preparation and renegotiation time. Certainly, in this matter, there is a lot to unpick and a return to court could be challenged because of the appeal.

Only the Conditions of Travel from 6/2/22 formalise the need for a "Permit to Travel". Northern may have wanted you to collect one - there was no compulsion to do so. It does, however, avoid awkward conversations at the gateline when you arrive and seek to buy a ticket.

 

[Watershed]

Only the Conditions of Travel from 6/2/22 formalise the need for a "Permit to Travel".

Indeed, though I am not convinced that they change the position as concerns potential criminal offences, or liability for Penalty Fares.

 

[WesternLancer]

I note the OP has sadly not come back to update or clarify any points. Hopefully they have been able to take this forward on the advice offered to date.