A MAN has avoided an immediate jail term for defrauding train firms after it took more than three years for him to face justice in the courts.

Carl Anthony Haywood, 31, of Winton Avenue, Poole, pleaded guilty ten counts of fraud by false representation when he claimed more than £4,000 in compensation from railway companies.

Haywood, who wants to forge a career in the railway industry, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing.

The court heard how Haywood “took advantage of a weak system” to claim £4,138 from railway companies on ten occasions in 2017.

However, due to a delay in proceedings, Judge Brian Forster QC sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He said Haywood created 57 false names in the course of these “repeated” claims.

Judge Forster said: “You abused the system set up by railway companies, you recognised the weakness of the system and made multiple claims.

“I have carefully looked at the information available. These offences were in 2017. You have kept out of trouble since that time.

“Courts will not tolerate offending of this nature, a custodial sentence must be passed.

“You are a person of considerable ability and if you do something worthwhile and productive you will do well but I think you need a bit of luck to get to that situation.

“If this matter had been dealt with in 2017 you would have been sent to prison immediately.”

Prosecuting, Laura Deuxberry said the railway companies were inconvenienced by the claims, with Govia Thameslink Railway having to pay staff £20 an hour for 40 hours to work through the claims.

The claims also indicate to the public that the performance of the company is at a worse standard than it in fact is, the prosecutor said.

She added that companies are aware of social media groups for like-minded people wanting to make fraudulent claims.

Ms Deuxberry said it was sophisticated, planned offending and of high culpability.

Mitigating, Ellie Fargin said Haywood helped his mother care for his ill father and brother with learning difficulties.

She said the defendant hadn’t offended since 2017 and had mental health issues of his own.

Ms Fargin told the court Haywood has had this sentencing “hanging over him” and called for a suspended sentence.

Judge Forster added: “I suspend this sentence for 18 months. If you get into trouble, you are choosing to serve this sentence.”

Haywood was also ordered to carry out 30 rehabilitation requirement days and pay £4,138 in compensation.

Detective sergeant Stuart Morishita-Dubois, of the British Transport Police, said: “This was a brazen and determined fraud which involved Haywood exploiting the delay repay compensation scheme and submitting fraudulent claims in different names.

“It’s no surprise this was quickly identified by rail staff who reported it to us, allowing us to begin an investigation into Haywood’s deceitful activity.

“His criminality resulted in a staggering loss of over £4000 for the railway, which he has rightfully now been ordered to pay back. Ticket fraud is not a victimless crime by any means, because the loss is passed down to the honest, fare-paying passengers who make up the majority of the travelling public.

“This sentence should send a strong message to fraudsters. We will not tolerate any kind of fraud on the transport network and we will make every effort to bring those that do commit the crime to justice.”