pleaded guilty by letter, got fine - do i now have a criminal record?

[Delila01]

I am new to this but had a similar experience last year.

 

I had a weekly ticket that covered me on a paralel train line.

One day within that week i was travelling on a different train line and purchased a ticket for a single journey.

I got stopped at a station and asked to show my ticket.

 

I had lost the single journey ticket between the beginning of my journey and the end desitnation.

Paid cash for it so no proof of purchase,

 

I showed the inspector my ticket which coevered me for the paralel line which I thought may get me through.

 

Instead he said he would be sending it off for the transport people to decide.

 

I didnt hear anything until a letter came through stating that I had 2 weeks to reply and state whether or not i was guilty or not guilty.

 

I was goign to be on holiday when the court appearance came up so I jsut did it by mail thinking I would just get a fine.

 

The fine came through abt £200, I paid it and thought that was it. No mention of a criminal record.

 

I work in finance and having read this post am now terrified that I actually have a criminal record as stated in this post?

 

Is there any way I can appeal against this after the decision has been made,

I have never been in trouble with the law before and this will compeletly ruin my career for such a stupid mistake.

 

Is there any help or have I actually ruined my life?

[dx100uk]

own thread created here

 

dx

[SRPO]

You will definately have a criminal conviction, but whether you have a criminal record will depend on the offence you were convicted of.

[wtlh]

You will definately have a criminal conviction, but whether you have a criminal record will depend on the offence you were convicted of.

 

Do you get a criminal record even if it is a by-law offence (most likely what OP got convicted for)? If so then I am confused, since aren't parking fines and penalty fares also by-laws?

[Delila01]

Thank you for your quick replies. This is why I didnt give it much of a thought. Had no idea it would be this serious. I guess I need to go to the CRB and find out then. Dread.

[SRPO]

Do you get a criminal record even if it is a by-law offence (most likely what OP got convicted for)? If so then I am confused, since aren't parking fines and penalty fares also by-laws?

 

Parking tickets and penalty fares are not byelaw offences unless prosecuted for non payment using the byelaws.

Byelaws are known as 'Non-Recordable' therefore you do not get a 'Record' but you do have a criminal conviction.

[Old-CodJA]

SRPO is spot-on of course, if you look back at the Summons that you received it will tell you what the charge is.

 

If it was breach of Byelaw 18 then it's non-recordable, but if it was 'intent to avoid a fare contrary to S 5 of the Regulation of Railways Act (1889)' it is more serious.

[Delila01]

SRPO is spot-on of course, if you look back at the Summons that you received it will tell you what the charge is

 

If it was breach of Byelaw 18 then it's non-recordable, but if it was 'intent to avoid a fare contrary to S 5 of the Regulation of Railways Act (1889)' it is more serious.

 

It is the Byelaw one. Will this show up on a CRB check or do I have to declare this when starting a new position? I'm a contractor and move jobs every year or so and I will be CRB checked for every job.

[Old-CodJA]

It is the Byelaw one. Will this show up on a CRB check or do I have to declare this when starting a new position? I'm a contractor and move jobs every year or so and I will be CRB checked for every job.

 

Everyone who has a conviction should declare it ONLY IF ASKED, but this is not a recordable offence that will show up on a standard CRB check and I doubt any prospective employer would ever be concerned by it.

[The Urbanite]

I am new to this but had a similar experience last year.

 

I had a weekly ticket that covered me on a paralel train line.

One day within that week i was travelling on a different train line and purchased a ticket for a single journey.

I got stopped at a station and asked to show my ticket.

 

I had lost the single journey ticket between the beginning of my journey and the end desitnation.

Paid cash for it so no proof of purchase,

 

I showed the inspector my ticket which coevered me for the paralel line which I thought may get me through.

 

Instead he said he would be sending it off for the transport people to decide.

 

I didnt hear anything until a letter came through stating that I had 2 weeks to reply and state whether or not i was guilty or not guilty.

 

I was goign to be on holiday when the court appearance came up so I jsut did it by mail thinking I would just get a fine.

 

The fine came through abt £200, I paid it and thought that was it. No mention of a criminal record.

 

I work in finance and having read this post am now terrified that I actually have a criminal record as stated in this post?

 

Is there any way I can appeal against this after the decision has been made,

I have never been in trouble with the law before and this will compeletly ruin my career for such a stupid mistake.

 

Is there any help or have I actually ruined my life?

 

Hi, you say parallel lines. I appreciate you may not wish to post details on a public forum, but if you do name the stations and lines concerned, there's an outside possibility that the ticket might actually have been valid which can be checked. It's a long shot, up to you.

[Delila01]

Thank you for your replies.

My weekly ticket was between Benfleet and Limehouse but I was travelling between Wickford and Stratford. One is c2c the other is Greater Anglia. I don't have the ticket still as it was last year but it will be linked to my travel card I presume if this is the case?