A SOUTH Shropshire train passenger has been fined hundreds after deliberately riding on a train without a ticket.
James Townsend was proved guilty in his absence of one count of travelling on a railway without paying a fare by magistrates in Yeovil in June.
The court heard from the prosecutor in the case brought by First Great Western that Bishops Castle man Townsend, who was not present at the hearing, had travelled from Ledbury to Bristol Temple Meads on a Great Western Railway train on January 28.
But, magistrates were told, the 25-year-old had not paid his £29.50 fare and had travelled with intent to avoid paying it.
Townsend, of Church Street, Bishops Castle, was fined £220 for the offence and ordered to pay compensation of £29.50 to the rail operator.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £180 and an £88 victim surcharge, which is used to help fund services supporting victims of crime.
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