A fare dodger has been ordered to pay more than £600 after he failed to pay for a train ticket despite having multiple opportunities to do so.

Steve Lomax, 42, of Nairne Street, Burnley, was asked to show his ticket to railway staff while onboard a service from Sheffield to Burnley.

However he produced an invalid ticket, meaning he was travelling on the train without having paid for his journey.

Court documents read: “He was issued with an unpaid fares notice in good faith so that he may pay the outstanding fare within twenty one days.

“Full instructions of where to send payment or to dispute liability are clearly printed on the notice. However, the defendant failed to make payment within the prescribed time period, subsequently a reminder letter was sent to him requesting payment, as no payment was received a final reminder letter was then sent to the defendant.

“Again he has failed to communicate or to acknowledge this reasonable request, as a result of which the fare remains unpaid.

“The fare avoided is £21.80 and compensation of this amount is claimed together with the sum of £150.00 towards the prosecution costs.”

In total, the defendant was ordered to pay £655.80 by magistrates sitting at Kirklees Magistrates' Court.