A NORTHWICH man has been hit with a £400 court bill after he was caught not paying a £4.60 train fare.

Adrian Hamilton, of Meadow Grove, took a rail journey from Altrincham to Manchester Piccadilly on December 23 last year.

But despite the ticket machines at the station being in operation on the day, the 37-year-old failed to buy a valid ticket or obtain a promise to pay notice and boarded the train.

Hamilton, who is currently awaiting trial after being accused of attacking a nurse, was issued with a penalty fare notice of £20 and given 21 days to pay or appeal the fine.

Two reminder letters were sent after no appeal or payment was made but these were both ignored.

The issue then went to court and was heard at Manchester Magistrates' Court on June 24.

Magistrates fined Hamilton £220 and ordered him to pay £4.60 compensation, costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £34.

He was given until July 22 to pay the total court bill of £408.60.