article_snippet.sent: A barrister and Oxford University graduate who spent more than two years avoiding paying for his train ticket could be the biggest fare-dodger to be prosecuted, a court heard.
article_snippet.sent: Oxford University-educated lawyer argues that Oxford University-educated lawyer only dodged up to £9,714.40 in fares, claiming the amount should be based on the cost of a weekly ticket, and take into account annual leave.
article_snippet.sent: But prosecutor Malachy Pakenham told Westminster Magistrates' Court: 'If it is accepted that the loss was £23,000, this defendant would be convicted of the biggest rail evasion case that has come to the court in the United Kingdom. '
article_snippet.sent: The train company are experts, not me or my friend and The train company have calculated it on a basis that if someone commits a fraud like this defendant has committed, you are not allowed to calculate this defendant has committed on the basis of a weekly ticket, you calculate this defendant has committed on a full single fare, of the return for the day, each and every day this defendant travelled over the period without a full price rail ticket'.
article_snippet.sent: An investigation was carried out by British Transport Police, which found the lawyer had dodged fares since April 2012.
article_snippet.sent: the lawyer was cautioned for an identical offence in 2010 but continued to break the law, despite the lawyer prestigious reputation as the founder of an African children's charity and director of leading think-tank, the Legatum Institute Foundation, aimed at 'promoting prosperity'.
article_snippet.sent: The deception places Barnett among the ranks of Britain's biggest fare dodgers, closely behind a former millionaire fund manager.
article_snippet.sent: Jonathan Burrows was banned from working in the City last year after avoiding £43,000 in train fares from Jonathan Burrows home in Stonegate, East Sussex.
article_snippet.sent: Jonathan Burrows had hoped to keep Jonathan Burrows name out of the public eye and avoid prosecution by quickly reimbursing Southeastern trains the full amount in unpaid tickets, accrued over five years, within three days of being caught.
highlights_snippet.sent: Deception places Deception among the ranks of Britain's biggest fare dodgers .
  