A PASSENGER has ended up with a £407 court bill after failing to pay £3.50 for a train ticket.

Gareth Butterworth travelled from Handforth to Alderley Edge on May 18, this year, North Cheshire Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.

The 58-year-old, of Carlisle Street, Alderley Edge, was asked to produce a ticket by a revenue protection officer when he arrived at his destination but he was unable to do so.

Butterworth was handed an unpaid fares notice so that he could pay the outstanding sum within 21 days, with instructions of where to send the money owed.

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However, the defendant failed to make the payment within the prescribed time limit.

A letter reminding him to pay was sent and when no response was received, a final reminder letter was issued.

"Again he failed to communicate or to acknowledge this reasonable request, as a result of which the fare remains unpaid," the magistrates court in Warrington was told.

Through investigations it was found that the surname was incorrectly spelt by one letter and was then updated on the system.

The case was proved in his absence.

Butterworth was fined £220 and ordered to pay £3.50 compensation, £150 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

The sum must be paid by November 26.