A 23-year-old Rudford man who dodged a £16.50 train fare has landed a bill of £450 in fines, costs, compensation and surcharges.

At Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court, the case against Tom Phillips of Whitehall Lane, was proved in his absence that on March 15 he travelled on a GWR train at Gloucester without paying the fare and with intent to avoid paying.

He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £16.20 compensation and costs of £180, and a surcharge of £34.