A MAN has been handed a court bill of almost £400 for failing to hand over a valid ticket on a train in the New Forest.

John Smith, aged 47, was accused of committing the offence while travelling on the South Western Railway service between Brockenhurst and Lymington Town railway stations on July 18, 2021.

The case against the defendant, whose address was given as Lower Buckland Road, Lymington, was provide under the single justice procedure at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, January 25.

Smith was not present in court for the closed-doors hearing, which saw a lone magistrate issue a £220 fine along with an order to pay £4 compensation, £34 surcharge and £140 costs.