Hello - Thanks for your response. Yes I was in court today and the case has been reopened and has now been adjourned for a trial. I don't have any evidence, I'm not sure there would be any evidence now as it was a telephone call originally. I did think it was unusual that I was advised it was ok to just wipe the ink off.

Hello - I am looking for some advice please in respect of a recent matter regarding a summons to court. In May 2015, I travelled from Birmingham New Street to Retford in the morning. I had bought an anytime ticket which cost me £103.40. During my journey to Retford my ticket was inspected by adequate inspectors, which was always expected. However, during the day whilst in Retford, I had unfortunately misplaced both my outward and return tickets. It wasn’t until I got to Retford train station to go home that I realised that I had lost my tickets. I then bought a new single ticket from Retford train station to travel home to Birmingham. I still couldn’t find them and checked the pockets of my jeans where I had found the tickets. Whilst on the train from Sheffield to Birmingham New Street my ticket was inspected. I quickly presented the ticket to the person which was my ticket that I had previously thought I had lost. I didn’t intend to give this ticket, due to deciding it would be best to keep this ticket to use on a future return journey as I had another ticket which I had bought for the same return journey on 22nd May 2015. The new ticket that I had bought was only valid for that journey on that day. The ticket was stamped by the person and I placed it back into my bag. When arriving at New Street train station I went to get my stamped ticket out of my bag. All my tickets were together and I noticed that the ticket stamped was the wrong one and it should have been the other ticket stamped I accept that this was my mistake and down to human error. When I was off the train I made a phone call to the customer services department for Virgin Trains, who I had bought my original tickets from at New Street Station. I explained my situation to them and they said to me if the ticket I had used had been stamped with ink I could wipe the ink off and still use the ticket next time. When speaking to the advisor on the phone I asked if I would have any problems with using my ticket next time. She mentioned that it was a general mistake and if I was questioned to explain to whoever stopped me and mention that I had spoken to Virgin Trains customer services. However, on Friday 12th June I was stopped by the train manager travelling from Sheffield via Derby to Birmingham New Street. I presented my ticket and explained the situation at the first instance, even though the ink was no longer visible. The train manager seemed ignorant to what I was saying, and didn’t seem interested in listening to me. He told me my ticket was invalid and I either had to get off the train or I had to provide my details so they could be sent to Cross Country Trains. I noted to him that it wouldn’t be suitable for me to get off the train. I was miles away from home, and I was travelling alone. willingly, I gave him my ‘FULL’ details and I showed him my passport without hesitation. He took a note of all my details and whilst he was doing so I tried to discuss the situation with him again, in a calm manner. However, he just told me there was nothing I could do and he had taken the decision to refer my details to Cross Country Trains and that I could explain to them. He was very rude and abrupt with me and I felt embarrassed and upset as he hadn’t gone about the situation in a professional manner and the train was very busy. All I expected to happen next was that I would be contacted by Cross Country Trains, which in due course I was. They mentioned to me in writing that my case had been passed to another company and I would be contacted by Transport Investigations. They didn’t say when this would be, nor did they say how they would contact me, but I presumed it would be via letter. Time went by and I didn’t hear anything from Transport Investigations, I thought there may be a possible delay in them writing to me, therefore I just waited After a while I still didn’t hear from them so I believed that if they needed to contact me then they would. I accept I should have been more responsible and contacted them myself for an update. The case went to court without my knowledge and I was found guilty in my absence with Intent to Travel without a ticket . The case was returned to court and reopened. I appeared in court today, where the prosecutor took me to one side and said in his own words that the 'court won't believe me' he said to me that the ticket (evidence) he had with him in court, had actually been stamped twice before my journey which I was stopped on. This was the first thing I knew about this and the train manager hadn't discussed this with me previously. I have no explanation as to why it could have or would have been stamped on two seperate occasions. The case has been adjourned until June this year. A trial will then take place. In the meantime, I am looking at offering an out of court settlement to Transport Investigations. I don't intend to accept liability for what happened or say that I am guilty, because this is not the case. However, I would like to get this completed as soon as possible and I don't have the funds for a solicitor. What are peoples views?