Dozens of rail passengers in Worcestershire have been slapped with a hefty fine for travelling on trains without a ticket.

Worcestershire Magistrates handed out fines to 17 fare dodgers after proving the cases in their absence on Friday (January 7).

For avoiding ticket costs as little as £3.40, this unfortunate lot will have to pay hundreds of pounds in fines and additional costs including compensation.

Each will have until February 4 to cough up their total amount due which includes a fines, costs and compensation surcharge.

Bryn Corbett-Stanley, 20, Chedworth Drive, Worcester

Fare: £45.80

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Worcester

Date of travel: June 10, 2021

Total amount due: £479.80 

Robert Collins, 24, Cheltenham Road, Evesham

Offence: Outside designated compulsory ticket area

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Date of travel: May 24, 2021

Total amount due: £442.80 

Marcus Donald, 45, Dornie Drive, Birmingham

Offence: Failure to hand over a valid ticket for inspection

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Worcester

Date of travel: May 4, 2021

Total amount due: £442.80 

Bliss Lam, aged 25, Bracken Way, Malvern

Fare: £9.50

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Worcester

Date of travel: July 8, 2021

Total amount due: £443.50 

Eloise Smith, 20, Cheltenham Road, Evesham

Offence: Outside designated compulsory ticket area

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Date of travel: May 24, 2021

Total amount due: £408.80 

Seperate offence: Outside designated compulsory ticket area

Date of travel: May 4, 2021

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Total amount due: £452.80

Damian Gladyseur, ages 40, Windermere Drive, Worcester

Fare: £10.30

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Worcester

Date of travel: July 8, 2021

Total amount due: £454.30 

Michael Johnson, 31, Vervain Close, Churchdown, Gloucester

Fare: £24.00

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Date of travel: July 16, 2021

Total amount due: £458.00 

Kieron Williams, 26, Barnett Avenue, Ledbury

Fare: £3.40

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Pershore 

Date of travel: April 23, 2021

Total amount due: £437.40 

Derek Arthur Eyles, 51, Kensington, Foxwood Grove, Birmingham

Fare: £8.50

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Date of travel: June 9, 2021

Total amount due: £442.50 

Lewis Jones, aged 36, Whinfield Road, Worcester

Fare: £7.90

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Malvern

Date of travel: May 17, 2021

Total amount due: £441.90 

Alice Carhill, 40, Wasdale Court, Worcester

Fare: £8.10

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Malvern Link

Date of travel: July 8, 2021

Total amount due: £440.10 

Mark Davies, aged 50, Wasdale Court, Worcester

Fare: £6.10

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Malvern

Date of travel: July 8, 2021

Total amount due: £440.10 

Phillip James, 24, Rose Bank, Evesham

Fare: £8.80

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Date of travel: July 19, 2021

Total amount due: £442.80 

Shkar OSMAN, 22, Port Street, Evesham

Fare: £8.80

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Worcester

Date of travel: May 17, 2021

Total amount due: £442.80 

Michal Sztandera, 32, Bewdley Lodge, Bewdley Street, Evesham

Fare: £10.10

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Moreton-in-Marsh

Date of travel: August 10, 2021

Total amount due: £444.10 

Anthony Tempest, 48, St Hilary Close, Richmond

Fare: £77.50

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Pershore

Date of travel: June 30, 2021

Total amount due: £511.50 

Carl Thomas, 32, Nelson Road, Worcester

Offence: Outside designated compulsory ticket area

Offence against: Great Western Railway - Evesham

Date of travel: April 30, 2021

Total amount due: £442.80

The Government recently announced a new and increased penalty for passengers dodging rail fares in England and Wales.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has increased the penalty from £20 to £100 in an effort to crackdown on anyone attempting to gain free travel.

Passengers will see on-the-spot fines added as a surcharge on top of the price of the single fare for a their journey.

If paid within 21 days, the fine will be reduced to £50.