Evader given fare warning

Magistrate threatens serial offender with prison

A SERIAL fare evader who pleaded guilty to breaking a good behaviour order has copped a tongue lashing from a Gold Coast magistrate and faces three months in prison if he offends again.

Dane Christopher Ryan, 30, pleaded guilty to fare evasion at Southport Magistrates Court yesterday after he was caught by ticket inspectors on the light rail at Helensvale last month. The court heard Ryan did not provide inspectors with a reason why he had not paid his fare.

Magistrate Gary Finger asked the police prosecutor for Ryan’s criminal history when he stood to represent himself.

“You don’t get these appearances without quite a number of warnings – I want to see how many he’s had,” said Mr Finger.

Mr Finger discovered Ryan was already serving an 18month good behaviour period for a similar charge after appearing in a Brisbane court in November last year.

He told the court Ryan also owed $11,000 to the State Penalties and Enforcement Registry.

Ryan said he thought he had enough money on his Go Card when he was caught by ticket inspectors last month.

“I didn’t willingly get on the tram without paying for my ticket, if you know what I mean,” Ryan told the court.

But Mr Finger wasn’t having a bar of it.

“You’re on an 18-month (good behaviour period) for the same offence, so everyone else on the planet has to pay for a fare except you?” he said.

“That’s the reality of the situation.”

Mr Finger told the court Ryan was the worst fare evader he had seen in more than a decade as a magistrate.

“Tell me why you shouldn’t spend time in custody if you think you’re better than everyone else?” he said. “You must think I came down in the last shower, I’ve been doing this job for 12 years and I’ve never seen fare evasion this bad.”

Mr Finger gave Ryan immediate parole but said he faced a three-month prison sentence if he offended again during the 18-month good behaviour period.

“You come to court again, for anything, and you know where you’ll go – wake up to yourself,” Mr Finger said.