‘Fast Track’ Justice Is No Justice At All

A university student who says she was misled by station staff while trying to get home during a train strike has been convicted in a fast-track court hearing of fare evasion. Mariah Laheri, 20, was bought a ticket online by her father, but found services were disrupted by ASLEF union industrial action on April 5.

So, being responsible travellers, they sought - and received - advice.  

She told a court her father was assured by railway staff that the ticket would be valid on other services, as she attempted to navigate from Gillingham to Preston to see her family. Ms Laheri got on to the train after being personally told on the platform by a staff member that her ticket would still be valid, she says.However she was then confronted on board by a ticket inspector, and on September 24 she was charged with fare evasion.

Here's a tip: video them. If you're in any doubt, record their advice to you, and play it back when confronted.  

Ms Laheri wrote in to the Single Justice Procedure to explain the circumstances behind the incident, after being told she was being prosecuted by government-owned London North Eastern Rail.

Because she obviously thought that this was sufficient. Was she given the option of a proper trial? I'd have taken my chances with a jury, if I'd have been her. 

In the Single Justice Procedure, the case was dealt with behind-closed-doors at a hearing in North Shields, with Ms Laheri receiving a criminal conviction and being ordered to pay £40.10 in compensation and £60 in costs. The sentencing magistrate dealt with the case based on written evidence alone, including her guilty plea and mitigation.

Submitting video evidence of the false advice would have been harder to ignore, surely? 

When The Standard pointed out to DOLR that the prosecution had been brought without any actual evidence or statements to support the criminal charge, it said a review of the entire company’s enforcement strategy is now underway.

“Doing the right thing for our passengers is at the centre of all we do”, said a DOHL spokesperson.

Sure it is.