Hi Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to this,
I have a court date on the 3rd July regarding fare evasion and I'm looking to settle out of court because I am a graduate aeronautical engineer and any criminal convictions would severely effect my employability within the aerospace and military sector.
I have previously had a clean criminal record prior to this incident and this is the first and hopefully last time I have been involved with a court case or criminal prosecution. I would really appreciate if anyone could give me advice in the process i.e. who to contact and a general gist of what to write to them.
A little about the incident, it occurred at oxford circus on 5th Sept 2013 traveling to barking however the inspector put on the report and is stated on the case, traveling to Piccadilly circus. The avoiding ticket value was stated as £4.10. I was travelling back home from a job interview (my current job) when at the barriers at oxford station I was stopped by a ticket inspector asking to scan my oyster card which I handed over to him and at that point I realised that I had used the wrong card absent mindedly as I was very happy that I successfully interviewed for the job and got it, I tapped in using my mother's freedom pass accidentally (I'll provide info bellow for why I was in possession of her pass). I did not use it on the way to the interview from my local station to oxford circus because I used my own oyster (travel history would indicate so). I did acknowledge that I did tap in with it but it was not intentionally and I did provide the inspector with my detail with the help of I.D. which was correct at the time however I did feel very intimidated at the time as this was the first time this kind of thing has ever happened to me. He confiscated my mother freedom pass and I offered to pay any fine or fare (my oyster card top up) but I was told that I was cautioned as this was my first time and that if I was to get fined that I would "get it in the post".
I didn't get any post as I recently just came back from travelling abroad for a year and I provided the inspector with my current address at the time however I moved out since. I received a letter from LCCC at my parents house explaining that I owe money that was a court fine but didn't explain anything about the court case. However after digging around and phoning several places, I found out that the case has gone to court with out me present and that I have been convicted of fare evasion. After speaking to them to tell them that I wasn't aware of the case and I didn't get a summons, they told me to make a 'statutory declaration' to say I was not aware of it. I made the declaration last week at Westminister magistrates court and they set another court date on 3rd July. I have no other paperwork aside from a copy of the declaration and the letter from LCCC indicating that I owe money for a court fine, I dont have anything from TFL or Lavinder Hill Magistrates court where the case was held.
I personally have never used my mother's pass before or since the incident and to my knowledge only my mother to whom it belongs to has ever used it. I have always topped up or had monthly passes which I have bought since starting using oyster card. I used my oyster top up on the way to the interview into oxford station but on the way home from the interview I accidentally used it at oxford circus underground station. Both of the passes have the same covers, I have the standard black Osyter card holder and after some wear and tear my mother replaced her orange one with one that she got from a train station which is the same type. She has had that card for 6 or more years, I can find out exactly if that helps.
The reason why I had it in my possession was, it was left on the coffee table in the living room where I was preparing for my interview, I had my notes, phone, wallet and keys etc on it too and as I realized I might be getting late for the interview I just grabbed everything off the table as I rushed out of the house thinking that it was mine and forgetting that I left my osyter card in my coat pocket from the previous day where I used it to get to the job center, I just assumed it was mine. I realised it wasnt mine as I got to the bus stop that I had another one in my pocket which was actually mine and that is when I used my card for the entire journey, two busses and two trains to the job interview.
I fully acknowledge that I used it, but I used it by mistake and I fully regret making that mistake as it will have an impact on my employment. I would like to resolve this out of court as I have no prior convictions and this is the first time anything like this has happen to me. I also really want to settle this out of court as its effecting my sleep and general well being. Any advice regarding settling out of court process (who to contact and what to say) is very much appreciated and I hope have provided enough information and if not, please do ask.
Thank you.
I have a court date on the 3rd July regarding fare evasion and I'm looking to settle out of court because I am a graduate aeronautical engineer and any criminal convictions would severely effect my employability within the aerospace and military sector.
I have previously had a clean criminal record prior to this incident and this is the first and hopefully last time I have been involved with a court case or criminal prosecution. I would really appreciate if anyone could give me advice in the process i.e. who to contact and a general gist of what to write to them.
A little about the incident, it occurred at oxford circus on 5th Sept 2013 traveling to barking however the inspector put on the report and is stated on the case, traveling to Piccadilly circus. The avoiding ticket value was stated as £4.10. I was travelling back home from a job interview (my current job) when at the barriers at oxford station I was stopped by a ticket inspector asking to scan my oyster card which I handed over to him and at that point I realised that I had used the wrong card absent mindedly as I was very happy that I successfully interviewed for the job and got it, I tapped in using my mother's freedom pass accidentally (I'll provide info bellow for why I was in possession of her pass). I did not use it on the way to the interview from my local station to oxford circus because I used my own oyster (travel history would indicate so). I did acknowledge that I did tap in with it but it was not intentionally and I did provide the inspector with my detail with the help of I.D. which was correct at the time however I did feel very intimidated at the time as this was the first time this kind of thing has ever happened to me. He confiscated my mother freedom pass and I offered to pay any fine or fare (my oyster card top up) but I was told that I was cautioned as this was my first time and that if I was to get fined that I would "get it in the post".
I didn't get any post as I recently just came back from travelling abroad for a year and I provided the inspector with my current address at the time however I moved out since. I received a letter from LCCC at my parents house explaining that I owe money that was a court fine but didn't explain anything about the court case. However after digging around and phoning several places, I found out that the case has gone to court with out me present and that I have been convicted of fare evasion. After speaking to them to tell them that I wasn't aware of the case and I didn't get a summons, they told me to make a 'statutory declaration' to say I was not aware of it. I made the declaration last week at Westminister magistrates court and they set another court date on 3rd July. I have no other paperwork aside from a copy of the declaration and the letter from LCCC indicating that I owe money for a court fine, I dont have anything from TFL or Lavinder Hill Magistrates court where the case was held.
I personally have never used my mother's pass before or since the incident and to my knowledge only my mother to whom it belongs to has ever used it. I have always topped up or had monthly passes which I have bought since starting using oyster card. I used my oyster top up on the way to the interview into oxford station but on the way home from the interview I accidentally used it at oxford circus underground station. Both of the passes have the same covers, I have the standard black Osyter card holder and after some wear and tear my mother replaced her orange one with one that she got from a train station which is the same type. She has had that card for 6 or more years, I can find out exactly if that helps.
The reason why I had it in my possession was, it was left on the coffee table in the living room where I was preparing for my interview, I had my notes, phone, wallet and keys etc on it too and as I realized I might be getting late for the interview I just grabbed everything off the table as I rushed out of the house thinking that it was mine and forgetting that I left my osyter card in my coat pocket from the previous day where I used it to get to the job center, I just assumed it was mine. I realised it wasnt mine as I got to the bus stop that I had another one in my pocket which was actually mine and that is when I used my card for the entire journey, two busses and two trains to the job interview.
I fully acknowledge that I used it, but I used it by mistake and I fully regret making that mistake as it will have an impact on my employment. I would like to resolve this out of court as I have no prior convictions and this is the first time anything like this has happen to me. I also really want to settle this out of court as its effecting my sleep and general well being. Any advice regarding settling out of court process (who to contact and what to say) is very much appreciated and I hope have provided enough information and if not, please do ask.
Thank you.
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