Thanks folks, I've changed our destination to outside the USA (still a dream holiday though) and I will contact the court to try and suss out what's going on. I am slightly worried about opening a can of worms but as Ell-enn said, I would no doubt have known about it well and truly if I was actually fined and didn't pay.

I do, and cheers for the advice both of you. I'm a little reluctant to enquire into it in case I open a big can of worms and end up being fined after all but just out of interest, does anyone know who I would even enquire with about whether I have a conviction/criminal record and what happened? And does anyone know if I'd be likely to be refused a USA visa if it turned out I was convicted? How would the USA access that information?

I would really appreciate anyone who’s in the know here. In 2009, I was caught without the right train ticket and prosecuted. However, I didn’t ever receive the summons, only a letter telling me I’d missed the court date and was being fined. I contacted the court and had to testify in front of the JP that I’d not had the summons, to which he said it was wiped clean however the train company could choose to re-prosecute if they wished. They never did, and I didn’t pay any fines or anything so I thought it was all wiped clean like the JP said. However, last month, I had to have a DBS check for my current job and it came back saying I was convicted of fare evasion and paid a £300 fine. We’ve booked a dream holiday for May next year to Hawaii and now I’m terrified about reaching border control and them not letting me in. Has anyone been turned away? Any advice? Should I apply for a visa? Would they give me one? Thanks.

Bump

Are the majority of prosecutions under regulation of railways act actually put onto the PNC?

Okay so a letter arrived this morning asking for my version of events. I will do as you suggested, SRPO, and say that the consequences of a conviction are disproportionate to the crime. Should I even bother explaining why I made a momentary lapse in judgement? Or is it always just cold hard facts (I didn't buy the correct ticket therefore should go to court). Also, is this the correct time for me to ask to settle out of court, or should I wait til they reply? Andydd, I take your point on board but I genuinely have never been in trouble before and when I was stopped by the RPO, then of course I told the truth to avoid getting into deeper trouble. I suppose I could have given a wrong address or made an excuse like I forgot where I got on but I thought honesty was the best policy.

SRPO, what are the chances they will allow me to settle out of court? I fully appreciate that I did wrong, and that my lack of money won't wash with the prosecution unit. So I am prepared to get a loan to cover any fine they give me. But a criminal record would seriously seriously mess up my life. I know what I did was illegal and stupid, and £2s add up to the rail company but a criminal record seems to mean I couldn't travel to certain countries and would show up on CRB checks, which would effectively end my career.

Can I start by saying, please no berating me. I have done a very stupid thing and I know that. I couldn't feel any worse than I do already. Yesterday morning, I got on my usual train (which is at an unmanned station) and tried to buy my ticket off the conductor as usual. He said his credit card machine was broken so I'd need to buy it when I got off at my destination. When I got off, I queued up to buy it at the ticket inspection barrier and I very stupidly I said I got on at a closer stop. I normally wouldn't dream of doing this - have only ever done it once before and didn't get caught - but I am under enormous financial pressure right now. I only have £23 to last me for two weeks and that has to pay for travel (£22.60 a week) and food. So on the spur of the moment I tried to save £2 by asking for a ticket from a station I didn't get on at. Next thing I know, the guy hands the ticket he just sold me to another staff member who takes me to one side and tells me the station I said I got on at is closed. I immediately confessed, told him where I really got on at, that I did genuinely try to buy a ticket and that I lied because I am so broke at the moment. He took my name and address, did an address check and told me I would receive a letter from them in a month. The rail company was Northern Rail who say they have a zero tolerance policy toward fare evasion. Now, I did wrong and I fully own up to it. It was stupid and spontanious and totally not worth it. I've just googled to see what happens and it seems this train company does prosecute people whenever it can. So I may get a criminal record, which will affect my job. I can't tell my partner as I am mortified and don't want to worry him. I feel sick. I just want to know if anyone has this experience and what will happen to me.