A man has been fined hundreds of pounds for failing to buy a £6 train ticket while travelling between Watford and St Albans.

John Roberts, of Campbell Street in Northampton, hopped aboard a service between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey without a valid ticket on May 18 last year.

The 34-year-old was fined £220 and ordered to pay £150 costs, a £34 victim services surcharge and £6 compensation – taking the total to £410.

Roberts had the case proved in his absence on January 10 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

Watford Observer: The Abbey Line at Bricket Wood. Credit: Nigel Cox

Standard single tickets between the Abbey Line stations are £6, while off-peak day returns are £6.10 and anytime day returns £8.30.

The line also serves Watford North, Garston, Bricket Wood, How Wood and Park Street.

Abbey Line trains have been suspended since before Christmas and the operator recently warned they will be out of action “until further notice”.

Operator London Northwestern Railway (LNWR) is running replacement buses instead.