A British woman faces court over a small-change rail fare mix-up — despite offering time and again to hand over the required coin, newspapers reported Friday.
Shocked commuter Jennifer Burton (23) is being hauled before the judge by rail bosses because of a 10 pence mix-up over her ticket.
Burton blasted the whole affair as “ridiculous” and said she had been made to feel like an “evil criminal”.
Burton had recently moved from the Burley Park suburb of Leeds, northern England, to Headingley, one stop further away from the city centre, and was commuting to a new job.
Passengers boarding at the unmanned Headingley station pay on the train but the conductor on Burton’s packed rush hour service never reached her.
She bought a £1,10 ticket from a machine at Leeds station, covering the fare from Burley Park.
A Northern Rail ticket inspector, cracking down hard on alleged fare-dodgers, swooped and grilled her as to where she got on. She said Burley Park — then realised her 10 pence mistake.
“I was a bit flustered and wasn’t thinking straight. I offered to pay the difference there and then but was told it would have to be investigated.
“It’s crazy. Why would I take the time to queue up to actually buy a ticket to get out of paying 10 pence?” The Sun reported her as saying.
Burton has since received a letter asking her to explain herself and said she again offered to hand over the all-important princely sum.
“The amount is irrelevant,” a Northern Rail spokesperson said.
“What is important is that we take consistent action to prevent repeat offending and demonstrate to those who may choose to avoid payment that it is unacceptable and action will be taken,” the Daily Express reported. – AFP