Fare Evasion - Avoided Prosecution
Author:
Date posted: 21 Feb 2025
Lawyer
Legal team
Case start date
14 Feb 2023
Significance
Minor
Case study summary
Our client was under investigation for fare evasion. We made defence representations to the rail company which led to a solution avoiding criminal prosecution. Instead our client drafted a letter f admissions and repaid the cost of the fares evaded.
Case study
Our client was accused of travelling with a UK rail company, having not paid the full fare. It was evidenced that on occasion he paid for only part of the journey, or he obtained an under 25 discount though his rail card had expired.
Our client was a young man, who having recently graduated from university was at the start of his career. A conviction, even by way of a caution, could have be catastrophic.
Representations were made to the investigating officers that any benefit was not achieved dishonestly, and invited them to dispose of the matter without prosecution. The investigating officer accepted this, and offered to deal with the matter by way of a letter of admissions, together with repayment of the financial benefit that our client had obtained.
Our client was very happy to resolve the matter without prosecution or caution.
Sara Longden
Associate Director
Sara is a highly experienced solicitor, qualified in 2006, and has extensive experience in Business Crime, including Conspiracy to Defraud, VAT Fraud, Price Fixing, Money Laundering, Ponzi Schemes and Proceeds of Crime. Based in our London office, Sara defends in investigations brought by most UK prosecuting agencies, particularly the SFO.