Charles Brohiri, 29, faces potential imprisonment after failing to pay a significant sum of fines and compensation related to numerous convictions for fare evasion. Brohiri was previously given a suspended jail sentence in February for 76 charges of failing to pay for a rail ticket. He has since been convicted in his absence of an additional 36 charges.
At Westminster Magistrates' Court, Brohiri admitted to not having paid any of the fines or compensation owed. The total amount he now owes, including compensation, fines, and victim surcharges, stands at £34,486. This debt stems from his failure to pay for train journeys valued at over £3,000 for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) services between February 2024 and November of the previous year.
District Judge Nina Tempia cautioned Brohiri that he could be sent to prison if he has not made any payments, a warning he acknowledged. Brohiri cited a slow referral process from probation for benefits as the reason for his non-payment but stated he would begin paying £5 per week. The judge has ordered him to start these payments from July 31, with a portion due by his next court appearance on August 27 for a means inquiry.
In February, Judge Tempia described Brohiri's offending as "brazen and persistent" and noted that he seemed to believe he was "invincible" by committing these offenses. Despite this, she had imposed a three-month jail sentence, suspended for a year, after considering a pre-sentence report that indicated some insight into his crimes and potential for rehabilitation. At that time, he was also ordered to pay back £3,629 in unpaid rail fares, complete 150 hours of unpaid work, and adhere to a 12-month prohibited activity requirement, which banned him from traveling on any Govia Thameslink Railway trains. He was also to complete rehabilitation activities.
Brohiri's fare dodging reportedly continued even after he was banned from entering Thameslink stations as part of his bail conditions in April of last year. His offenses are said to have occurred in most months since February 2024, with the last recorded incident on February 10 of this year.
His defense counsel indicated Brohiri expressed remorse and regret for his continued travel during court appearances. She stated that he believed probation assistance could help him secure accommodation and employment, factors she suggested would end his offending. Brohiri, who previously attended university and worked in hospitality, has been homeless in London for three years, reportedly struggling to find consistent support from charities.
Govia Thameslink Railway estimates that fare evasion costs the railway industry approximately £400 million annually, which in turn increases costs for taxpayers and diverts funds from service improvements. The company stated it takes its responsibility to protect ticket revenue seriously and has reduced ticketless travel on its network to its lowest level since 2022 through various measures, including prosecutions and targeted ticket checks.