A WINCHESTER man has been fined almost £500 for travelling on a train without a ticket.

Catalin Gheorge Badau, 30, of King Alfred Place, Hyde, attempted to travel from Billingham to Middlesbrough without paying the fare of £4.90 on Thursday, April 4, a court heard.

He was found guilty in his absence at Teeside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, October 15.

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According to the court record, Badau was travelling from Billingham to Middlesbrough, and was unable to produce a ticket during the journey to a revenue officer, claiming that the ticket machine at Billingham Station had frozen. The revenue officer attempted to sell a ticket but Badau's bank card was declined on three occasions.

A letter was sent to Badau requesting the fare only, but this was unpaid.

Badau has been fined £220, and must also pay £4.90 compensation, a victims surcharge of £88 and £150 costs.

The total amount of £462.90, 94 times the cost of the original ticket, must be paid in full by November 11.