Tram fine Jim taken for a ride

Jim McMahon has been dragged through the courts for fare dodging offences he didn’t commit

A PENSIONER has been dragged through the courts after a tram fare dodger used his name and address.

Despite being 49 years older than the date of birth given by the fare evader - and there being no evidence of his involvement - Jim McMahon (76) from Lydgate has had to spend £600 clearing his name.

The fare-dodging culprit was stopped by an inspector for not having a ticket three times last August.

The imposter gave Mr McMahon’s full name and his daughter’s address in Springhead as his own.

For two offences the culprit said he was born in 1978 and for the third he offered 1988.

Though Metrolink dropped two of the charges, the third was taken to court and has cost Mr McMahon £300 in solicitor fees and £300 in loss of earnings.

Mr McMahon said: “After we received the fine notices we explained the situation.”

Despite believing the mistake had been resolved, Mr McMahon received a letter in November to say the case would be going to court.

He called police and was told if he wrote a letter to the court and to Metrolink, he wouldn’t have to appear and the case would be dropped. But his case continued and he was fined £310 by Bury Magistrates.

Mr McMahon said: “I got a solicitor. I wasn’t going to pay that fine.

“I was told I had to go to Oldham Magistrates Court to make a statutory declaration.”

The charges were finally withdrawn at a court hearing in Bury earlier this month.

A TfGM spokesperson said afterwards: “Two cases were withdrawn as soon as Mr McMahon contacted Metrolink and provided evidence.

“In the third case, when a different date of birth was given by a fare dodger, no contact was made with Metrolink until after it had been to court. Had Mr McMahon made contact in good time the case would also have been withdrawn immediately. The onus is on Mr McMahon to come to us.”

The statement infuriated Mr McMahon: “My daughter contacted Metrolink to explain and I contacted Metrolink myself. The best thing for Metrolink to do - given there were two other instances of my name been falsely given, would have been to check before dragging me through the courts.

“When I had already made it clear, why is it my responsibility to prove I’m innocent once again?”

A TfGM spokesman said in future if his name is used, they will contact him directly - but Mr McMahon remains angry since the company hasn’t contacted him to say so.

“Metrolink hasn’t been in touch to apologise,” he said. “I intend to try to get some money back for my inconvenience.”