A WOMAN who failed to pay her train fare has been hit with a £400 court bill.

Julie Finney, 47, of Oakfield Close, Alderley Edge, failed to produce a ticket at Huddersfield station when asked by an inspector on August 26 last year, Manchester Magistrates Court has heard.

READ > Driver fined £1,000 after doing almost double the speed limit

The defendant boarded a TransPennine Express at Stalybridge railway station without a valid ticket to travel, the bench was told when the case was heard on January 7.

Passengers can buy tickets at this station before they get on a train and these facilities were in full working order on the day in question.

A penalty fare notice was issued to Finney when she was unable to produce a ticket or promise to pay notice.

This official document, demanding either £20 or twice the single fare, whichever was the greatest, was handed to her.

Payment or an appeal must be made within 21 days. Full instructions of where to send payment or appeal are clearly printed on the notice.

As no payment was received, a reminder letter was sent.

Finney failed to communicate or acknowledge the request and, as a result, the fair remains unpaid.

Magistrates issued a £220 fine and ordered the defendant to pay the fare of £14.70 as compensation, £150 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

Finney was given until February 4 to pay the £418.70 penalty.