DOZENS of train ticket cheats have been caught riding the railway without paying.
Govia Thameslink and Southern Rail prosecuted 60 illicit passengers on one day in court - ordering fare cheats to pay more than £28,000 in fines and court costs.
They included nine people from Brighton and Hove who were fined a total of more than £4,600 and seven from Worthing were fined more than £3,700.
Among the worst offenders were Paul Oluwatobiloba, 21, of Totland Road, Brighton, who had only bought a ticket for part of his journey when he was caught at Haywards Heath on August 27. He was caught without a ticket again on September 2. He was ordered to pay £1,097.60 in fines and court costs.
Bobby Challis, 20, of Mendip Road, Worthing, was caught twice in April at Lancing and Shoreham stations and ordered to pay a total of £990.90 by Brighton Magistrates.
James Carey, 19, of The Spinney, Burgess Hill, was caught at Brighton station on September 22 and 27 without a ticket. He was prosecuted and ordered to pay £1,187.60.
A spokesman for Southern said: "We take fare evasion very seriously and will prosecute anyone caught deliberately travelling on our services with no intention to pay for a ticket.
"The railway industry loses about £200m in revenue each year through fare evasion. This is money that could have been re-invested in the railway to provide a better service for all."
All faced a charge of failing to have a valid ticket and their guilt was proved in their absence.
Jane Vine-Thorpe, 37, of Selsfield Drive, Brighton, was caught at London Road station without a ticket and fined 611.60
Rhys Mendelson, 21, of Vale Road, Portslade, was ordered to pay £369.60
Marvin Manu, 23, of the Highway, Brighton, was caught at Balcombe and ordered to pay £626.
Elliot Anthony Cahill, 25, of Clarendon Villas, Hove, was caught on the Isle of Wight and fined £395.
Carlos Cesteros-Escalona, 21, of Clarence Square, Brighton, was fined £377 after being caught at Gatwick in March.
Lee Kendall, 38, of Fernhurst Crescent, Brighton, had to pay £377 for having no ticket at Aldrington.
Jaryd Kotze, 32, of Flint Close, Portslade, was caught at Lancing and fined £199.
Luke Overton,19, of Applesham Way, Portslade, was caught at Fishersgate and fined £613.
Georgia Lavergne, 19, of Broadwater Road, Worthing, was fined £377 after being caught at Lancing
Aaron Rich, 28, of Cross Street, Worthing, was caught at Lancing and fined £369.
Andrew Steveson, 28, of Victoria Road, Worthing, was ordered to pay £611 after being caught at Lancing.
Bradley Thorpe, 25, of Clifton Road, Worthing, did not have a ticket at Haywards Heath on May 30 and was fined £378.
Jonathan Mateer, 44, of Rowlands Road, Worthing, was fined 611.60
James May, 26 of Vancouver Road, Worthing, was caught at Shoreham and fined £379.
Richard Kinyua, 25 of The Avenue, Goring, was caught at Portslade and fined £370.
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