Ex-Tottenham defender convicted of Tube fare evasion
Sebastien Bassong fined £565 after using a stolen pass at St Paul's Station.
Incident → evidence → outcomeFormer Tottenham Hotspur defender Sebastien Bassong has been convicted of fare evasion after using a train driver's nominee pass that did not belong to him to travel on the London Underground. The 40-year-old was caught at St Paul's Station on 2 May.
A Transport for London (TfL) revenue control officer observed Bassong at 1.08pm. The officer stated in a court report that Bassong appeared to tap an Oyster card within a wallet before following another male through a wide-aisle gate. A system check later confirmed the pass Bassong produced did not belong to him and had last been used in October 2025.
Court proceedings and penalties
The case was heard at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday, 30 October. Bassong was convicted of travelling without a valid ticket in a Single Justice Procedure hearing. He was fined £220, ordered to pay the £7 fare, £250 in prosecution costs, and an £88 victim surcharge. This brings the total amount Bassong must pay to £565, with 28 days to settle the sum.
The pass Bassong used belonged to the ex-girlfriend of a friend. This friend later told the TfL officer that he had given the pass to Bassong due to experiencing financial and personal hardship following a divorce and unemployment.
Questions this report answers
01What was Sebastien Bassong convicted of?
Sebastien Bassong was convicted of fare evasion on the London Underground. He was caught using a train driver's nominee pass that did not belong to him at St Paul's Station, travelling without a valid ticket.
02How much was Sebastien Bassong fined?
Sebastien Bassong was fined £220. He was also ordered to pay the £7 fare, £250 in prosecution costs, and an £88 victim surcharge, bringing his total payment to £565.
03Whose pass did Sebastien Bassong use?
The pass Sebastien Bassong used belonged to the ex-girlfriend of a friend. The friend stated he gave the pass to Bassong due to personal and financial difficulties he was experiencing.
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