Hi guys
Back on october 31st at University station I failed to by a ticket because of the huge queses there and I needed to get to the city centre quickly. At new street station I sillyilly decided to completely avoid buying a ticket and use the lifts to exit the station because they avoid the ticket barriers. However they for the first time ever had a ticket inspector there who court me.
Anyway my over christmas they sent me a couple of letters saying they were planning on taking me to court etc etc and would I like to say anything. I replied back essentially admitting that i didnt have a ticket. I offered to pay the cost of the ticket a penalty fare and admin costs, but today my dad emailled me to say the something that looks like court summonshas arrived back at home.
Can people advise me on what to do. I fully admit I didnt have a valid ticket, they are also trying to do me for intent to avoid a fare which they say is a more serious offense, I can possible defend myself there by showing them bank records that show that straight away after the incident I brought a complete return ticket from new street back to uni. I did also point out that if I came from alvechurch, a station on the line, and I was disabled I would have to do excatly what I did do as alvechurch has no ticket facilities and there is never a conductor on the train to buy a ticket of, so would have to leave via the lifts at new street and avoid a ticket.
I have offered to pay penalty fare, ticket cost and admin fee, will that stand me in good stead at court, also im sure I read something about a 6 month time limit on these things, if so that time limti will have expired on 30 april so could this thing be chucked out anyway due to crosscountry/transport investigations Ltd mucking up dates, a bit like the home sec.
I am quite worried because of the possibility of a criminal record and that im young so it will affect me for the rest of my life, especially as im looking for work
Back on october 31st at University station I failed to by a ticket because of the huge queses there and I needed to get to the city centre quickly. At new street station I sillyilly decided to completely avoid buying a ticket and use the lifts to exit the station because they avoid the ticket barriers. However they for the first time ever had a ticket inspector there who court me.
Anyway my over christmas they sent me a couple of letters saying they were planning on taking me to court etc etc and would I like to say anything. I replied back essentially admitting that i didnt have a ticket. I offered to pay the cost of the ticket a penalty fare and admin costs, but today my dad emailled me to say the something that looks like court summonshas arrived back at home.
Can people advise me on what to do. I fully admit I didnt have a valid ticket, they are also trying to do me for intent to avoid a fare which they say is a more serious offense, I can possible defend myself there by showing them bank records that show that straight away after the incident I brought a complete return ticket from new street back to uni. I did also point out that if I came from alvechurch, a station on the line, and I was disabled I would have to do excatly what I did do as alvechurch has no ticket facilities and there is never a conductor on the train to buy a ticket of, so would have to leave via the lifts at new street and avoid a ticket.
I have offered to pay penalty fare, ticket cost and admin fee, will that stand me in good stead at court, also im sure I read something about a 6 month time limit on these things, if so that time limti will have expired on 30 april so could this thing be chucked out anyway due to crosscountry/transport investigations Ltd mucking up dates, a bit like the home sec.
I am quite worried because of the possibility of a criminal record and that im young so it will affect me for the rest of my life, especially as im looking for work