East Ham man involved in £185,000 Oyster card fraud

An East Ham man who helped defraud a railway company of £185,000 has been handed an eight month suspended sentence.

Avtar Bains, of Tyron Road, was one of five ticket office staff to misuse ticketing machines to falsely credit Oyster cards.

The court was told that the high value fraud began at the two stations in 2011, with an investigation launched in 2012.

The 39-year-old, who worked at Woolwich Arsenal station, and his four co-defendents all admitted fraud by abuse of position when they appreared at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday.

His colleague John Benge, 61, of Roberts Road, Belvedere, was jailed for 10 months, while Nigel Moss, 56, of Poppy Close, Gillingham, was handed a six month suspended sentence.

Both he and Bains were also ordered to complete unpaid work and pay costs to the court.

Two other Southeastern staff who worked at Greenwich station were jailed for their part in the fraud.

Douglas O’Dwywe, 39, of Thamesbank Place, Thamesmead, and Michael Fleming, 43, of Donaldson Road, Woolwich, were handed two and a half years and one year respectively.

Det Insp Ashley Cooper said: “British Transport Police do not tolerate any type of fraud, no matter the amount, no matter who is responsible.

“These men took advantage of their position to steal money and tickets from the train company and customers.”