Caught using someone else's Freedom pass, convicted - leave to appeal granted

[iambilly]

I used my grans freedom pass and got caught.

 

I have phoned/emailed tirelessly to try and settle out of court but they are not backing down.

I offered to pay triple the fine but its seems they just want to prosecute me.

 

I don't care the fine

I just can handle that I will get a criminal record as this is my first ever incident with the law

and I am a student

 

When is your trial date?

 

 

have you settled out of court?

[Feebee_71]

Iambilly,

 

You should start your own thread so you can get help.

 

You should also be clear as to what happened as, on this thread you say it was your gran's freedom pass, on another thread you said it was your friend's.

 

Feebee_71

[Old-CodJA]

I have the exact same thing as you I used my grans freedom pass and got caught.

 

I have phoned/emailed tirelessly to try and settle out of court but they are not backing down. I offered to pay triple the fine but its seems they just want to prosecute me.

 

I don't care the fine I just can handle that I will get a criminal record as this is my first ever incident with the law and I am a student doing well not some London riot chav.

 

 

These passes are issued as a benefit to people in genuine need and paid for by the public purse.

 

Your suggestion that you don't care about the fine is a good example of why the robust policy of reporting misuse does seem appropriate.

 

If you don't have a problem with paying perhaps hundreds of pounds in fine & costs, then it seems that you could have paid your fare.

 

The fact that misuse of Freedom Passes is a widespread breach of trust and can be considered in the same vein as stealing public money, is the very reason that TfL and the TOCs take a very hard line in prosecuting these matters.

[sailor sam]

These passes are issued as a benefit to people in genuine need and paid for by the public purse.

 

Your suggestion that you don't care about the fine is a good example of why the robust policy of reporting misuse does seem appropriate.

 

If you don't have a problem with paying perhaps hundreds of pounds in fine & costs, then it seems that you could have paid your fare.

 

The fact that misuse of Freedom Passes is a widespread breach of trust and can be considered in the same vein as stealing public money, is the very reason that TfL and the TOCs take a very hard line in prosecuting these matters.

 

And so they should. The scheme is expensive enough without it being abused.

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

I have started a new thread for you, please continue to post here.

 

You may or may not hear from the forum members you asked for updates, not everyone comes back to tell us how they get on. To me, it seems particularly prevalent for Freedom pass cases.

 

My best, HB

[iambilly]

Hi everyone I really need some help,

 

I was travelling on the tube and decided to use my sister's freedom pass.

To cut a long story short I got caught and gave all my details and admitted everything.

 

I know what I have done was wrong and I am ashamed of what I have done it has been the biggest mistake of my life and has made me really unwell.

 

I then received a letter saying I might be prosecuted to which I replied with a sincere apology and a plea not to take me to court.

 

They ignored my plea and sent me a court summons.

I have tried about seven times to call/email them to allow me to settle out of court but have had no luck.

I have even offered to pay triple to fine and court costs but they just want to prosecute me.

 

I know I have to pay the fines and court costs ect and that is not a problem as that is fair.

The main problem is the fact I will get a criminal record.

 

This is my first ever offence and I am currently at university and hopefully will become a primary school teacher

and I am sure this will do fair amount of damage to my future prospects.

 

I am not a bad person I am not one of them London riot chavs I want to make something of my life.

 

I have lost a lot of weight and now need sleeping tablets as I haven't been able to sleep well since this has happened.

I am petrified that this one mistake of trying to save a bit of money will have an effect on the rest of my life.

 

Is there any help or advice you can give me as I am in court next week and I am terrified.

 

I know I should plead guilty as I was and they can definitely prove it.

When I get to the court will I get to put my points across even if I plead guilty,

like will I be able to explain how this is my first offence and that I am generally a good person.

 

Also will a few of my friends be able to watch my case while it is in progress for support,

or will they have to wait outside. Any other advice would be great.

 

Thanks guys

[BankFodder]

Plead guilty

Be completely honest

Be contrite.

Explain that you appreciate the seriousness and stupidity of what you have done.

 

Explain the effect on your job and that this is the first and last time that you will ever break the law.

 

There is nothing else you can do.

 

Read this:- https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/Pages/convictions.aspx

and this - https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q89.htm

[iambilly]

Thanks for the advice and links. Will follow the advice. Hopefully will go okay but I doubt it very much.

 

Still wondering if my friends can come into the court room with me?

[BankFodder]

Yes, they can - but if I were you wouldn't invite them.

The magistrate might not understand why they are there and they might feel that they want to make an example to your friends.

 

Take one friend if you want the support - but leave it at that.

Dress decently - not formally but respectfully.

If you are a male - no jewelry

If you are a female - keep it toned down

[iambilly]

Thanks again for the advice yeah good idea probably just bring one friend.

I was going to wear a suit, but is that too much?

[BankFodder]

I'm sure that a suit is fine - as long as you wear it and it doesn't wear you

[iambilly]

Ha I will try.

 

Does anyone know how many people will actually be in the court room?

[Grotesque]

47.

 

http://www.47.net/47society/

[iambilly]

Pretty funny I guess...

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

Have you read Old-CodJA's forum sticky about court and what to expect?

 

My best, HB

[honeybee13]

I've merged your two threads to keep the information together. I'm a bit confused about this.

 

I was travelling on the tube and decided to use my sister's freedom pass.

 

Previously, you said it was your Gran's?

 

HB

[iambilly]

Hi yeah thanks Old-CodJA's forum sticky was very helpful.

 

Just wondering will I get the chance to put my points across, like when I asked the ticket inspector if it would go any further he said that it wouldn't and it was just a warning.

 

Should I bring this up, or will I get the chance to, should I ask for the inspector that caught me to attend.

 

Thanks

[iambilly]

Yeah sorry I said my grans freedom pass as I was scared that TFL might read this so I changed it a little

[Grotesque]

You know that some of the helicopters you hear over London are TfL? -loooking for cable thieves, you see.

 

But they haven't set up an Internet Forum Monitoring dept. yet. On a slightly more serious note... if you just fibbed about a little thing like that... ...no wonder you're waiting for your case to come up eh? LOL

[iambilly]

I just didn't want them to have anything to use against me in court, it doesn't matter if it was my nan's or sisters pass it was a freedom pass and TFL go mental about that.

 

I offered them £1000 to settle out of court but they still said no.So they will waste time and money just to prosecute me.

[Grotesque]

You offered them a grand? Stone me. Did you send them a cheque or 'just' offer? -if you know what I mean?

[iambilly]

What do you mean? I would happily pay a grand instead of going to court and getting a criminal record.

 

They refused it and seeing as its my first ever offence I think that's a bit harsh especially as the ticket inspector misled me and said it was just a warning.

Edited July 1, 2012 by honeybee13
Removing contraversial word.

[Grotesque]

I meant, if you sent them a cheque for a grand, I bet they would've cashed it! I'm a bit of a believer in 'a bird in hand', although TfL can be contrary bastards. But if you just offered a grand it's not quite the same thing as paying it. E.g., when you hear about people settling on the steps of the Court, they literally pay up on the steps of the Court... they doon't make arrangements to ppay a little bit incrementally a month. See what i mean? Not that I'm suggesting you should pay a grand anyhow. Blimey. In fact:

 

"'Crumbs!" -Said William'.

[BazzaS]

What do you mean? I would happily pay a grand instead of going to court and getting a criminal record.

 

They refused it and seeing as its my first ever offence I think that's a bit harsh especially as the ticket inspector lied to me and said it was just a warning.

 

Ahh well, mind you, you "lied" by using someone else's freedom pass, and got caught.

You've "lied" about whose pass it was, and been pulled up for that.

 

You've had it explained to you why Freedom pass abuse is viewed so seriously, and why TfL almost always prosecute : yet you feel you are being treated harshly?

 

If it is worth a grand to you not to be prosecuted, how much was the fare that you dodged? And why dodge it by abuse of a publically funded system intended to benefit some of the most disadvantaged?

[Grotesque]

I suppose it was a form of a warning wasn't it? He aint gonna do it again is it