Charles Brohiri, a 29-year-old man, has been identified as potentially one of Britain’s most notorious fare dodgers. He recently confessed to 112 instances of ticket evasion, accumulating unpaid fares and fines exceeding £18,000.
For nearly two years, Brohiri managed to avoid paying for his train journeys, freeloading on services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) across the southern and eastern regions of England. His actions have significantly impacted the rail company, with estimates suggesting that his total fare evasion might reach up to £30,000, covering over 180 incidents where he was detected by ticket inspectors.
Previously, Brohiri, who has claimed homelessness, was found guilty in absentia of 36 fare evasion charges last year, resulting in £5,600 worth of unpaid fares and penalties. His offenses span across the Thameslink, Great Northern, and Southern services, all managed by GTR, with incidents dating back to February 2024.
In a recent court appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court, Brohiri spent close to 20 minutes silently acknowledging an additional 76 offenses. These recent admissions have added £12,700 more to his mounting debt for unpaid train journeys.
The fare dodger was convicted of 36 counts of fare evasion last year in his absence, totalling £5,600 in unpaid fares and fines.
He spent almost 20 minutes quietly admitting another 76 offences worth an additional £12,700 at Westminster Magistrates Court today.
His offending took in stations in London, across the south coast of England and as far north as Peterborough, mostly on journeys to and from the capital. Some offences even took place on consecutive days.
Between his last appearance in December and his hearing today, it was alleged that he had once again sought to avoid buying a ticket several times, as recently as last week – despite the fact he had been banned from using GTR trains while on bail.
He did not enter a plea for the new allegations. They will instead be taken into consideration when he is sentenced next month.
Charles Brohiri (pictured in August 2025) avoided 112 fares on trains over nearly two years
Brohiri avoided more than 100 fares on trains operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (pictured: a Thameslink train)
He was taken through each of the offences and asked to plead. In response to each charge, Brohiri, who was dressed from head to toe in black and wore a black slouch beanie hat, quietly said: ‘Guilty.’
In all, he owes GTR £18,386 across £3266.90 in avoided fares and £15,120 in costs towards the prosecution.
Ahead of sentencing on February 11, Judge Tempia bailed him again, once more ordering him not to travel on any Govia Thameslink trains, or else face arrest.
District Judge Nina Tempia warned him that he could face a custodial sentence given the number of offences he has committed.
The judge added: ‘I’m remanding you on bail on the same conditions as before. If you break your conditions you will be arrested and could be remanded in custody.’
Asked if he understood this, Brohiri replied: ‘Yeah, sure.’
Lawyers acting for Brohiri had last month sought to have 36 convictions made in his absence quashed, and the other charges thrown out, on a point of law.
Barrister Eleanor Curzon had claimed GTR’s use of a lay prosecutor was a breach of the Legal Services Act, which she said bars those are who are not qualified lawyers from litigating cases.
But District Judge Nina Tempia ruled that the train operating company had acted within the rules to bring the case to court in a victory for the rail firm.
Brohiri hails from Croydon and had previously lived in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, but told an earlier hearing he did not own a mobile phone and has relied on libraries for internet access since becoming homeless.
He founded a ‘creative agency’ called ClvssyMvrty and had signed up for a modelling agency, according to one online biography.
Under the name Rvre Dean, he is also a wrapper, performing songs rife with lyrics about owning diamonds and driving a Mercedes-Benz.
Judge Tempia’s judgment has huge implications for the way railway operators chase up unpaid fares – despite Government guidance and a recent court case suggesting that the use of lay prosecutors to litigate cases may be breaking the law.
Train companies have used lay prosecutors as a cost-effective means of catching fare evaders for years.
But in June, Department for Transport officials advised them to take legal advice on their use amid fears that it could be a ‘criminal offence’.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander then underlined this in August following recommendations from the Office of Rail and Road.
In a letter to firms, she said: ‘As “good” and “efficient” operators, we would not expect you to use lay prosecutors to present cases in court and carry out other regulated legal activities until you are confident that it is lawful to do so.’
In September, the High Court that only qualified solicitors were permitted to conduct litigation in what has become known as the Mazur case.
It sent shockwaves through the law profession, which often relies on paralegals and other people who are not qualified lawyers to carry out legal duties.
But Judge Tempia’s ruling today concludes that rail operators are exempt from this requirement.
‘I agree that it was GTR’s understanding that those individuals (lay prosecutors) addressing the court were permitted to do so because of the long-standing practice in the Magistrates’ Court allowing them to conduct advocacy,’ she wrote.
‘The court has been aware of this arrangement for many years, and I agree it is arguable that in these circumstances the court has granted rights of audience.’
Prior to Judge Tempia’s judgment handed down today, Brohiri’s laywers had sought to rely on the judgment in the Mazur case to have his offences thrown out.
