Eight fare dodgers have been in court after failing to pay for their tickets or failing to show tickets or rail cards. 

Each of the cases took place at Teesside Magistrates Court on December 15 - where all eight were found guilty of fare dodging.

Here's the eight people that have been fined in court over the offences:

Neil Bennet, 41, of Park Lane, Horden did not pay the £4.60 fare for his trip on May 22, 2023 between Horden and Hartlepool.

He claimed to have his ticket on his phone but could not produce either a phone or a ticket when challenged by Northern Trains Ltd.

Bennet ignored a request to pay the fare and a subsequent Fixed Penalty Notice, leading to the prosecution.

He was not present at the hearing.

Bennet was convicted in his absence on December 15 at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

He was fined £220 for the offence and was ordered to pay the evasion fare of £4.60, also picking up a bill for £150 prosecution costs.

The total fines and costs of £374.60 must be paid by January 12, 2024.

Paul Geoffrey Beveridge, 40, of  Queens Avenue, Thornaby, did not pay the £3.60 fare for a train journey from Stockton to Billingham on May 25 this year.

Appearing in absentia, it was found by the court that Beveridge intended to avoid making the payment.

As he could produce no ticket during the train ride, Northern Trains Ltd filed a complaint against him.

Following the incident, Beveridge did not respond to a letter requesting the fare and a subsequent Fixed Penalty Notice demanding payment.

The court has since ordered Beveridge to pay back £3.60 fare, as well as a victim service surcharge of £88.00 and £150 towards prosecution costs.

In total, he was fined £220 on December 15 at Teesside Magistrates Court.

Now, Beveridge is required to complete his payment of £461.60 by January 12.

Lee Bogg, 27, of Henry Street, Shildon failed to pay the £8.40 fare for a train journey from Middlesbrough to Shildon on May 11 this year.

Bogg, who did not appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on December 15, was issued an unpaid fares notice during the journey and had twenty one days to settle the cost.

However, despite receiving reminder letters and a fixed penalty notice, Bogg failed to respond or pay.

Bogg was found guilty in his absence and was ordered to pay a fine of £220.

He was also ordered to pay compensation for the fare avoided of £8.40, a victim services surcharge of £88.00, and prosecution costs of £150. 

The fees, totalling £466.40, must be paid by January 12, 2024.

Macmillan Chingono, 27, of Chalford Oaks, Middlesbrough, made a rail journey from Middlesbrough to Manchester Piccadilly on June 7, 2023, without paying the fare.

Prosecutors stated that upon arrival in Manchester, Chingono showed an Advance Single ticket from Middlesbrough to Stockport, reduced because of a 26-30 Railcard.

However, he failed to show the required Railcard.

The Middlesbrough man was then fined by the court in his absence on December 15, 2023. 

In total, Chingono must pay £523.40, which includes the £65.40 in compensation for the unpaid fare, a £88 surcharge to fund victim services, and prosecution costs of £150, by January 12, 2024.

Colin Fulton, 26, of  Ravenscourt Road, Sunderland, was found guilty of travelling from Sunderland to Middlesbrough without buying a fare.

The incident took place on June 7, 2023, when Fulton, unable to produce a valid ticket or pay using his card which was declined, was issued an Unpaid Fares Notice.

On December 15, at Teesside Magistrates Court, Fulton was fined £220 in his absence, ordered to pay the £12.80 fare, a surcharge of £88 to fund victim services, and £150 towards the prosecution costs.

A total of £470.80 must be paid by January 12, 2024.

A Stockton-on-Tees resident was found guilty of dodging a train fare between Manchester Piccadilly and Thornaby.

Chris Honeyman, 59, of Durham Road, Stockton-on-Tees, travelled without paying the fare of £65.40 on June 12, 2023.

Honeyman was convicted in his absence on December 15 at Teesside Magistrates Court.

The court revealed that Honeyman attempted to avoid the fare by claiming he had lost his bank card.

Despite being issued with an unpaid fare notice which detailed payment or dispute options, Honeyman failed to respond.

Proved in absence, Honeyman was fined £220 and ordered to pay compensation of £65.40, costs of £150 and an £88 surcharge to fund victim services.

A collection order was made, with a total balance of £523.40 to be paid by January 12, 2024.

Ahmed Jamil, 23, from Victoria Road, Middlesbrough, made a train journey on June 8, 2023, without paying the necessary £16.10 fare.

Jamil was travelling from Middlesbrough to Cramlington and produced a discount ticket which required an accompanying railcard.

However, when asked, he was unable to produce the railcard on his phone.

When the Middlesbrough man failed to respond, a Fixed Penalty Notice was sent to him which remains unpaid.

Jamil failed to attend his hearing on December 15, 2023, at Teesside Magistrates Court and was found guilty in his absence.

He was fined £220 and ordered to pay compensation of £16.10, costs of £150, and a victim surcharge fee of £88. 

The court issued a collection order for the unpaid fines and costs, totalling £474.10 by January 12, 2024.

Jamie Johnson, 28, from Ash Crescent, Horden, did not pay for a ticket for his railway journey from Horden to Hartlepool on May 22, 2023.

During the journey, Johnson was not able to produce a valid ticket.

After the incident, Northern Trains Ltd, who reported the case, requested the fare only.

However, Johnson didn't respond to the notice.

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The unpaid fare avoided was £4.60 and an extra £150 compensation was claimed towards the prosecution costs.

In his absence, Johnson was found guilty at Teesside Magistrates Court court on December 15, 2023.

He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £4.60 in compensation.

He was given until January 12, 2024, to pay the total £224.60.