Businesswoman claimed more than £2K in fake train refunds

AN AMERICAN businesswoman claimed fake refunds totalling more than £2,000 during a long-running train strike.

Kristin Magnuson, 49, pleaded guilty to making fraudulent ‘delay repay’ claims for £2,136 to Govia Thameslink Railway.

The consultant, of Hove, East Sussex, claimed repayments for journeys she did not make amid strike action which hit services on the London to Brighton mainline. Brighton magistrates’ court ordered her to repay the money, gave her a community order and told her to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work. She must also pay an £85 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

A spokesman for GTR said: ‘We take these matters very seriously. When appropriate we will hand cases over to the police and pursue them through court as a deterrent against attempts to defraud.’