Thank you! it really is stressful, but reading through everyone’s responses and experiences helps ease the stress! If the fine wasn’t so outrageous, I was going to pay it, because I know I was in the wrong, but seriously, £125 for security is just ridiculous! Ok the bright side even if my credit rating goes down for 6 years, doesn’t matter, by the time I graduate and earn enough for a deposit on a house, decades will have gone by!

Thank you to everyone that replied! I’m in a similar situation. Just received my first letter from dwf asking for £125. The value of items I was caught shop lifting came to about £10. Was really afraid until I read everything here, and will ignore the letters!