FARE dodgers who failed to buy train tickets have been left with hefty court bills.

In some cases passengers were told to pay more than 10 times the original fare for short journey.

On-the-spot penalties, which are either £20 or double the cost of a single fare for the journey taken (whichever is the greater), are being enforced on-board trains and at destination stations by the industry’s authorised collectors.

Travelling on the Furness Line, their case were dealt with in private hearings held at Preston Magistrates' Court.

Cases can then be taken to court if the train fare remains unpaid by the passenger.

Damien Smith ended up being forced to pay more than £400 after he failed to buy a ticket worth £3.80 when travelling between Ulverston and Cark.

Smith, 31, of Lund Terrace in Ulverston, made the journey on July 21.

No payment or appeal was received after he was issued a penalty fare notice, the court heard.

Smith was fined £220 and told to pay £3.80 in compensation, a £34 victim surcharge and costs of £150, leaving a total bill of £407.80 for the unpaid fare.

Andrew Richard Phillip Sharkey was hit with a total bill of £130.80 after he failed to produce a ticket worth £6.80 travelling between Cark and Roose on June 11.

Court documents said an appeal was submitted but denied and as there was no payment, a reminder letter was sent.

After his case ended up in court Sharkey, of Trent Vale in Barrow, was told to pay a £40 fine, compensation of £6.80, a surcharge to fund victim services of £34 and costs of £50.

Brandon Hammond failed to produce a ticket while travelling between Ulverston and Barrow on May 17.

Court documents said the 24-year-old was sent a letter requesting the fare, followed by a Fixed Penalty Notice, which he did not pay.

Hammond, of Bowness Road in Barrow, was told to pay a fine of £220, compensation of £4.70, a £34 victim surcharge and £150 in costs by Preston Magistrates' Court.

Jake Coll, of Larch Grove in Ulverston, failed to produce a ticket between Ulverston and Cark on July 27.

He was told to pay a total of £407.80 in fines and costs for the unpaid fare, worth £3.80.

Laura Routledge's case ended up in court after she failed to produce a ticket travelling between Lancaster and Ulverston on July 2.

The 32-year-old, of Regent Park Avenue, Morecambe, was told to pay a total of £255.10 by the court for the £11.10 fare.

A Northern spokesperson said: “A court appearance is very much the last resort and not something who choose to do lightly, but prospective fare dodgers should be aware that trying to avoid even a small value ticket could result in a hefty fine and even a criminal record.

"Penalty fares and fines are designed to tackle the minority of rail users who persist in refusing to buy their tickets before boarding a train."