Hi i'm looking for some advice regarding a pending court case.
I've recently been sent a court summons and the information laid out on the letter is That on the 25/05/2012 I was traveling from Treforest to Neath station. I had purchased a ticket from Treforest to Cardiff with the intent on arrival at Cardiff to purchase the Cardiff to Neath ticket - I did it this way because if I purchase a ticket from Treforest to Neath is nearly £5 more expensive than if I buy them separately. Upon arriving in Cardiff the train I needed to get to Neath was to depart in 2 mins so I rushed onto the platform and jumped on the train with the intention of a) purchasing my ticket on the train (but there was no guard which came around the train) b) purchasing my ticket from the unpaid fares booth in Neath......
So i get of the train in Neath and head straight to the unpaid fares office, while waiting in the queue 2 gentlemen come up to me to ask me to show them a ticket which i reply i'm just buying one, they ask me where i traveled from, i reply with Cardiff... then they proceed to escort me out of the queue to start filling in witness statement - i'm obliging at this point as i didn't really know what was going on. Anyway after they completed the witness statement I was then told that the matter would be reported to the train company etc. But I was let through the barrier without having to purchase a ticket.
I have now received a court summons for the 28/09/2012 and from what I understand of the matter I am being prosecuted/fined for having 'criminal intent not to buy a ticket and avoid paying the fare. On the letter i have it says - Contrary to S.5 (3) (b) of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 as amended by section 84 (2) of the Transport Act 1962 and section 18 of the British Railways Act 1970. If the matter ends up going to court whats likely to happen? e.g. will i receive a criminal conviction and a criminal record if prosecuted? Also is there still a possibility i may be able speak to the prosecutor regarding settling the matter out of court?
One other thing that's bugging me, I don't understand how it's gone this far considering it is my first EVER 'offence' on the railways and police in general and the fact that I had the means to pay and was very willing to pay my fare at the unpaid fare booth. But yet they complete a witness statement and let me out of the station without paying .
Thanks in advance for any help its really appreciated thanks!
I've recently been sent a court summons and the information laid out on the letter is That on the 25/05/2012 I was traveling from Treforest to Neath station. I had purchased a ticket from Treforest to Cardiff with the intent on arrival at Cardiff to purchase the Cardiff to Neath ticket - I did it this way because if I purchase a ticket from Treforest to Neath is nearly £5 more expensive than if I buy them separately. Upon arriving in Cardiff the train I needed to get to Neath was to depart in 2 mins so I rushed onto the platform and jumped on the train with the intention of a) purchasing my ticket on the train (but there was no guard which came around the train) b) purchasing my ticket from the unpaid fares booth in Neath......
So i get of the train in Neath and head straight to the unpaid fares office, while waiting in the queue 2 gentlemen come up to me to ask me to show them a ticket which i reply i'm just buying one, they ask me where i traveled from, i reply with Cardiff... then they proceed to escort me out of the queue to start filling in witness statement - i'm obliging at this point as i didn't really know what was going on. Anyway after they completed the witness statement I was then told that the matter would be reported to the train company etc. But I was let through the barrier without having to purchase a ticket.
I have now received a court summons for the 28/09/2012 and from what I understand of the matter I am being prosecuted/fined for having 'criminal intent not to buy a ticket and avoid paying the fare. On the letter i have it says - Contrary to S.5 (3) (b) of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 as amended by section 84 (2) of the Transport Act 1962 and section 18 of the British Railways Act 1970. If the matter ends up going to court whats likely to happen? e.g. will i receive a criminal conviction and a criminal record if prosecuted? Also is there still a possibility i may be able speak to the prosecutor regarding settling the matter out of court?
One other thing that's bugging me, I don't understand how it's gone this far considering it is my first EVER 'offence' on the railways and police in general and the fact that I had the means to pay and was very willing to pay my fare at the unpaid fare booth. But yet they complete a witness statement and let me out of the station without paying .
Thanks in advance for any help its really appreciated thanks!