A 31-YEAR-old woman will now have to pay nearly £500 to the courts after dodging a £9.60 rail fare. 

Zlatina Ivanova, of Collumbine Green, Evesham, travelled on a Great Western Railway (GWR) service on a journey to Pershore from Worcester Shrub Hill on May 20 this year. 

Martin Calvert, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, (September 29), said when an inspector challenged her she told them she didn't have a ticket. 

Evesham Journal: CASE: Zlatina Ivanova's case was heard at Worcester Magistrates CourtCASE: Zlatina Ivanova's case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court After not paying the fare, and the rail operator not receiving payment since, Chris Mitchell, chairman of the magistrates bench, announced Ivanova would be fined £220. 

The defendant, who was not present in court for the hearing, was also ordered to pay compensation to GWR of £9.60 - the cost of the rail ticket - and victim surcharge of £88, costs of £180. 

Ivanova was given 28 days to pay the total of £494.70 in full.