Man has £379 docked from his wages for ‘boarding train without a ticket’ – despite being 200 miles away
Stuart Pennock, 46, said was treated like a criminal and described the case as a 'disgrace'
A MAN has had £379 docked from his wages for "boarding a train without a ticket" - despite being 200 miles from where it was supposed to have happened.
Stuart Pennock says he thought a magistrates' letter was a "wind-up" after he was told he was being prosecuted by Southeastern railway.
The 46-year-old was left baffled when he was told he owed £379 in fines and costs after failing to buy a ticket from Sidcup to Dartford in Kent - since he knew he'd been in Liverpool at the time.
Mr Pennock believes the offender fraudulently gave his name and old address when stopped by train staff.
Court records showed the date of birth on the notification letter was also wrong.
He said he was later able to prove his innocence through a Facebook post and was told the operator was dropping the case, but he's yet to receive a refund.
'A WIND-UP'
“I thought it was a wind-up letter," he told The Independent.
"Like a spam email, just a scam, basically. I let it go for a few days.”
Mr Pennock said the alleged journey supposedly took place in October 2016, but he first found out about it on February 21 this year.
“I very nearly bypassed it," he continued.
"I went down to see my HR department and they said it might be worth giving [the court service] a ring. I spoke to someone in Wales, and they basically said, ‘Yes, it’s true.’ They couldn’t give me any information.”
Mr Pennock says he was able to prove he was in Liverpool at the time with the use of a Facebook screenshot.
“I knew I hadn’t done anything. I felt guilty but I knew I was innocent, it was quite a daunting affair. They had already made me guilty by sending me the letter and taking my money.”
I felt guilty but I knew I was innocent, it was quite a daunting affair. They had already made me guilty by sending me the letter and taking my money
Stuart Pennock
He finally received a letter on March 10 saying Southeastern was dropping the case, and that a planned hearing on April 5 would not go ahead.
He said he felt the process – conducted under the so-called single justice procedure – was “very unfair and a bit of a disgrace”.
“I was fuming at the time. All of a sudden you get treated like a criminal. It’s not a nice feeling at all.
“I’m in my overdraft. I’m not saying I’m skint, but I’m not well off, either.”
The single justice procedure means magistrates can rule on thousands of low-level offences, including skipped train fares, without the defendant present - as long as they plead guilty.
In this case it is understood that the fraudster imitating Mr Pennock may have pleaded guilty in his absence.
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A Southeastern railway spokesperson said: “In October 2016 we issued a penalty fare to a passenger travelling without a ticket, who fraudulently provided Mr Pennock’s name and a former address.
“When our letters requesting payment went unanswered, court proceedings were issued to recover the money owed which alerted Mr Pennock to the deception. As soon as we became aware of this fraud, we instructed the court to stop its proceedings, and we understand that Mr Pennock will be reimbursed by the court directly.
“We’ve also taken steps to ensure that his name and address cannot be abused again in this way.”
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