City high-flyer dodges £43k in rail fares … then pays in 3 days!

A CITY executive dodged almost £4 ,000 in train fares for his daily commute to London – and paid it all back in just three days after being caught.

Over five years, the fund manager avoided buying a £21.50 ticket each day when travelling from his home in the sought-after village of Stonegate, East Sussex.

The unnamed commuter – believed to be the biggest fare dodger in history– exploited a loophole that let him pay only a third of the cost of his 1 hour 22 minute journey. He caught the commuter train from Stonegate – a rural station with no barriers – without purchasing a ticket.

Once in London he was able to pass through the barriers at Cannon Street by simply ‘tapping out’ with an Oyster travelcard, paying just £7.20.

But his scam was finally exposed by a ticket inspector in November. In an out-ofcourt settlement, the man paid Southeastern trains £42,550 in dodged fares and £450 legal fees within three days.

The rail firm told The Sunday Times he wanted his identity kept secret due to the impact it would have on his job. But crtitics questioned why he was allowed to avoid being prosecuted and remain anonymous.

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, said in a report: ‘It is not only extraordinary that the biggest fare dodger in railway history got away with it for so long, but has also now escaped criminal prosecution as well.’ ÷Do you know who the fare dodger is? If so, email news@dailymail.co.uk