Train Fine Rescinded After Identity Fraud Incident

Courts have informed a woman that a fine she wrongly received for riding a train without a ticket has been rescinded. In June 2023, an inspector at St Albans station apprehended another woman for lacking a valid ticket, at which point she falsely provided the name of Loretta Cawcutt, 55, of Farley Hill, Luton. Govia Thameslink Railway emailed Ms. Cawcutt, expressing regret that she had fallen victim to fraud and advising her to appear in court to have the matter dismissed. Essex Magistrates’ Court, located in Chelmsford, has since sent her an email confirming the case’s listing for withdrawal. Ms. Cawcutt characterized it as a “fiasco” that the communications concerning the train fine were dispatched to the address of the individual who had assumed her identity to evade payment. She discovered she was being penalized solely upon noticing monthly deductions from her universal credit, following her court appearance and sentencing in absentia, which included a fine of £484. Ms. Cawcutt, who experiences long-term post-traumatic stress disorder, stated: “I know it is not the biggest crime in the world but how can you put someone through this?” She added: “No-one understands how traumatic it is for me to deal with all this.” She reached out to Action Fraud, which serves as the UK’s national reporting center for fraud and cybercrime. Action Fraud informed Ms. Cawcutt: “Whilst the misuse of your identity cannot be classified as a police recorded crime, we do recognise that identity theft can cause significant distress and inconvenience.” Ms. Cawcutt reported that the entire ordeal had severely impacted her and labeled it a “shambles.” A spokesperson for Govia Thameslink Railway commented: “We are extremely saddened to hear of this sickening fraud which has obviously caused so much distress to Ms Cawcutt. “Sadly, we had no idea someone had used her name.”