Have you ever gone on public transport and sat on chewing gum, spit, vomit, half chewed sweets, mud or other noxious substance without realising and thereby ruined whatever garment you were wearing? Such things get on the upholstery either directly or indirectly from someone's footwear. Think what you walk on in the street? Not counting the time you have to walk around with the disgusting stuff stuck to your clothing before you can get changed? Have I said enough? Has this young woman no thoughts of anyone else? Just as long as she is comfortable. She could at least have removed her footwear and placed something protective on the opposite seat before putting her feet on the seat. I have done that with total approval of train inspectors etc.

MeMo, Inverness,

To Gary from Crawley, *use* the seat? Use in what way, that is the question. People shouldn't use seats for putting their feet on - in any case, surely putting one's feet on the seat opposite is 'using' two seats, having paid only for one - thus invalidating your argument.
Similarly, people shouldn't 'use' their or anyone else's seat or other part of a train for drawing on, disposing of their litter, etc.
I find your attitude to 'use' rather worrying - do you, for example, see it as your right, having paid for a hotel room, to trash it? to crash a hire care without paying for damages? etc.?

Marco, bhm, uk

This truly is a ludicrous case. i think it is ludicrous that putting your feet on the seat in a train can even constitute a crime, after-all we pay for our tickets and so we should have the right to use the seats.

Gary, Crawley,

mmmm.... I don't know.... I think there is nothing better than putting your feet up after a long day!! I do it all the time

Mike, Chelsea, london, UK

Ridiculous is a perfectly fitting description. Attaching criminal culpability for what is essentially adherence to good manners and etiquette is an absurd idea. I find it hard to see how failure to read a sign, no matter how obvious, should jeopardise a future career. What exact public harm is she causing that justifies labelling her as a 'criminal'? If a prosecution was successful, would this then rightly put fear into the next person who thinks about 'over-relaxing' on the 7.28 to Waterloo?

Dan, London,

Ridiculous is a perfectly fitting description. Attaching criminal culpability for what is essentially adherence to good manners and etiquette is an absurd idea. I find it hard to see how failure to read a sign, no matter how obvious, should jeopardise a future career. What exact public harm is she causing that justifies labelling her as a 'criminal'? If a prosecution was succesful, would this then rightly put fear into the next person who thinks about over-relaxing on the 7.28 to Waterloo?

Dan, London,

Ridiculous is a perfectly fitting description. Attaching criminal culpability for what is essentially adherence to good manners and etiquette is an absurd idea. I find it hard to see how failure to read a sign, no matter how obvious, should jeopardise a future career. What exact public harm is she causing that justifies labelling her as a 'criminal'? If a prosecution was succesful, would this then rightly put fear into the next person who thinks about 'over-relaxing' on the 7.28 to Waterloo?

Dan, London,

I agree tehre is nothing I like better than putting my feet up! I think it is basic human right!

Gianni, Roma, Italy

I'm very sorry she din't get a fine at least. She is just a spoil brat, that's all and got away with it.
The majority of young people have no manners, they think is cool.

alex, oxford,

Its nice to know that there is a measure of supporters and non supporters here which illustrates how the Times has a balanced view.

However? An absolute discharge?

Was there or not the intent to interfere with a reasonable rail traveller's enjoyment? How was this evidence adduced? If it was adduced in any way that Local Authorities usually adduced theirs, (i.e. badly) then she should have had a straightforward victory with her costs. Can she really have been said to have intended or been reckless to interference? Who complained?

Bureaucracy and the jobsworths (with 40/60ths index linked pensions, protected terms and conditions and private sector 'market' rate salaries) who enjoy it can usually be defeated..

Austin Tassletine, Bristol, UK

Common sense has prevailed...unfortunately after some delay. Such a prosecution certainly makes one question how much common sense exists in organizations such as MerseyRail when such things can occur. One cannot be blamed to think that executives at such companies have big pay cheques and small brains. This should never have reached the courts either by the company realizing their folly or the courts throwing it out at the very beginning.

Graham, Offshore,

England is not Japan, or hadn't anyone noticed?! The cultural differences go far beyond what to do with ones' feet on public transport.
I am a 22 year old university graduate, and in my three years of attending university, I have on every available occasion put my feet up on the seat. This is not as an act of defiance, but rather because I suffer with arthritis in my pelvis and knees, amongst other places. It is far more comfortable to put my feet on a seat, than to suffer with them in an awkward position.
I do, however, usually take my shoes off also. I am not sure if this offends people more or less, but i do not do it if somebody is sitting near me.
To try convict a girl because of putting FLIP FLOPS on a seat is insane. It makes you realise that the UK is quickly becoming an exact carbon copy of the USA, with a trial and money to be made from all minor inconveniences.
This case was rightly thrown out. Any other result would have been disasterous for the country's legal system.

Amanda, Ennis, Ireland

if the girl had been a more intimidating youth, I think the inspector would have ignored here behaviour. As it was she was jst a young girl and so he picked on her. whilst putting her feet on the seat was loutish and disrepectful, it hardly warranted a court case. What waste of money! Why not spend those surplus resources on solving real crime problems?

Dianne Aslett, Birmingham, England

I sometimes sit on the ground before ghetting on trains. Are inspectors going to have a good look at all our trousers as well?

eckythump, Salisbury, UK

Simon in Devon, Godwin's Law merely states that the longer a discussion continues, the more likely there will be a reference to Hitler or Nazis.

I stand by my comment - good manners were derived from a voluntary social contract, whereby people chose to behave in a courteous manner for the benefit of all, but today that is increasingly being replaced by an expectation that every problem can and should be solved by the government passing more laws to regulate behaviour.

These concepts of social engineering and the "nanny state" were seen in their most extreme forms in Communist and Fascist countries. But at least Mussolini got the trains to run on time (which is more than can be said for MerseyRail, it would seem!).

Bryan, Auckland, New Zealand

While the majority of people who have posted on this list think that, whatever the outcome, the girl (and girl she most certainly is by her behaviour) should not have placed her feet on the seat in the first place, I can practically guarantee you that maybe three of you would have challenged her if confronted with the situation in your own lives.

Until we start challenging people who behave antisocially, including people who drop litter, or place their feet on seats in public transport, we will see no improvement in society.

Helen, Reading, UK

Bryan, from Auckland asked if ."... killing 2 people is only 2.5 times as bad as ....."
I agree. The fine for the road crash should have been higher.

As for this story, I agree with the rail company. I don't care if they were flip flops or rubber boots, the girl showed a lack of manners and common sense, despite a clearly visible written warning.

I would not want this girl teaching my children. She should have pleaded guilty and coughed up the fine. Take responsibility for your actions, else avoid those actions.

Gavin, Kanazawa, Japan

Why on earth is the company able to use criminal law to prosecute what is clearly a civil matter between a company and its customer? No physical damage to property could ever be proven here. The only sanction the company should have is to order her off the train and perhaps not to use it again.

But this is the sort of lunacy you get when you have government involvement in any private enterprise. Immediately a raft of mad laws and offences that are completely unnecessary to any half-decently run business.

Alan Wilkinson, Russell, New Zealand

Why on earth is the company able to use criminal law to prosecute what is clearly a civil matter between a company and its customer? No physical damage to property could ever be proven here. The only sanction the company should have is to order her off the train and perhaps not to use it again.

But this is the sort of lunacy you get when you have government involvement in any private enterprise.

Alan Wilkinson, Russell, New Zealand

Bryan in New Zealand, are you aware of Godwin's Law?

Simon Egan, Exeter, Devon

There is much that could be said about this case, but I would just like to say that some of the comments posted here were posted by the same type of idiot that took this prosecution forward. Miss jennings broke a bye law she didn't steal the crown jewels. This was a common sense bench and I am sure the verdict would be the same for working class, middle class or upper class.

Frank Redmond, London, United Kingdom

The whole situation is a joke, she should have just got a on-the-spot fine.

It's just like getting a parking ticket, i'm sure she could have paid the fine within 14 days!!!

This country makes me laugh!

Rakesh, Swindon, England

Putting your feet up on seats is disgusting and very inconsiderate. On the trains I travel on its normally white Reebok clad builders who put their feet on the seats.

Gary, London,

Another stirling job by the CPS - clearly a serious offence meriting trial by jury. What an outstanding group of people....

Liam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

She should have been publicly flogged!

leemond, Koh Samui, Thailand

Surprisingly many responses from angry people. It's very rewarding to pick up an easy target and ignore something more serious. And , yes I think that the little Hitler who considered prosecution to be appropriate action, should be named and fired.

Lydia, Cheltenham,

What an astonishing blast of vitriol from self-righteous Middle England over a trivial incident that should never have reached beyond the train carriage, let alone the courts. But maybe this is an expression of fear; a fear generating the muddled thinking that convicting a kid with poor manners is somehow the prelude to a crack down on the hordes of yobs, muggers and assorted offenders that frequent our public transport. As the nervous commuters run the gauntlet of Friday night drunks and Saturday afternoon hooligans (when there is never an inspector to be seen) are they not similarly entitled to `zero tolerance’? It’s not going to happen. Not until the British people regain their moral courage and self respect, stop thinking that it’s somebody else’s problem, think twice about stepping over the bleeding victims for fear of `getting involved’, and (this is a tough one), asking young girls if they would mind terribly taking their flip flops off the seat because someone has to sit there.

David Lampshire, Dubai, UAE

this is a joke what a waste of time and money

a mein, newcastle, uk

Merseyrail ought to concentrate on getting trains running on time and dealing with REAL vandalism, not putting young ladies like this through such an ordeal. I have regularly seen Mersey rail staff sitting on trains with their feet up on the seats. Sack the official concerned - he has brought th company into disrepute.

Neil Shepherd, Clitheroe, UK

Wasn't it George Bernard Shaw who remarked that "common sense is a very uncommon quality"? If it were applied in this case, I think most people would admit (a) that it certainly doesn't keep seats clean if you put your feet on them, but (b) that an official on the train should simply ask an offending passenger to remove them. Only if the said passenger starts to argue should the letter of the law then be applied - and firmly.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

I completely agree that Merseyrail over-reacted in this case and it should never have got to court. However, the girl should not have had her feet on the seats in the first place and was quite rightly told to remove them. What has happened to basic standards? People do not want dirt from shoes transferring to their clothes when they sit down and I completely agree with John when he says in her Father's day she would have got a good clip round the ear.

Elaine, Hull, Yorkshire

It doesn't matter how promising or how 19 you are, we have a single law that applies to all (or should) and my understanding is that this young lady was sitting directly opposite a sign clearly stating that law. Therefore the prosecution is completely justified. far from being bad publicity, this almost makes me want to go to Liverpool so that I can do business with Merseyrail (almost).

As to her fathers "In my day you used to get a bang around the earhole and ‘Don’t do it again’". Can I assume that he has , at some point in the intervening period delivered said bang around the earhole? Or that he has now given Merseyrail his written permission to administer such summary justice to any and all offspring that he may have should they be found in similar circumstances? I rather doubt it.

Ian , Farnborough,

Thank you Mersey Rail for enforcing some civilised standards. I was brought up to respect others and NOT put my feet on seats as a sign of respect for other people's property and other people's clothes.

It is a shame that it takes a rail company to impose some standards in thsi country instead of the government.

What a shame so many people writing here have such low standards themselves.

MikeW, Gloucestershire, UK

Noone should put their feet on the seats in public transport, it is unhygenic at the least, if there are notices and warnings, a fixed penalty fine should be imposed. We should also have a filter system for the courts , subject to appeal.
We must consider the sort of contamination that is picked up by shoes and feet, of the doggy and catty kind as well as much more.

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain

Umm, the sign said "You will be fined", not "You will be taken to court". Why not just fine her and be done with it?

Philip Brydon, Stuttgart, Germany

Wow, Johnny - Don't you think it's a little bit mean-spirited to be taking our your own prejudices out on an entire section of society, most of whom you have never and will never meet? How do you know she is unemployed? I am a full-time university student and I also work three days a week. Also, how do you know this person has an 'over developed sense of entitlement'? Coming from Merseyside, she has most probably grown up surrounded by a dearth of opportunities, in an area where unemployment is relatively high, and where many peole have a general distrust of the very concept of higher education. How do I know this? I also come from Merseyside. I am the first in my family to pursue an academic career. I was raised in a council house in Birkenhead, to parents who had no qualifications themselves.But of course you'll disregard anyone who doesn't fit your stereotypes, because that's how bigotry works. Incidentally, did you pass your A-levels? I'm detecting a hint of bitterness ;-)

Leah, York,

I commute between StAlbans and East Croydon. The same trains serves Gatwick and Luton airport. Each day holiday makers to the airport sprall themselves over the carriage, feet and luggage on the seats. When asked to remove them to allow a passenger to site down, they reluctantly do so. I say introduce spot fines on all passenger putting there feet on the seats. What do they do at home? do they place there outdoors shoes on the settee at home?

Nick Hughes, Hatfield, England

The trains are vastly over priced and the train companies are the real criminals in this situation. Considering the horrific expense for a ticket I believe every passenger should get their money's worth and sit as comfortably as possible. If this means slowly wearing away at the upholstery - so be it. After all they've blinking charged you for it!

Felicity Fyr Le Fay, Brighton, East Sussex

What a coutry this is turning into.
Taking someone to court for putting their feet on a seat.

I'm highly alarmed by the litigious nature of the present UK population. People are suing each other and taking each other to court left, right and centre.

Merseyrail were utterly ridiculous in their action and over-reacting like that has not done them any favours at all. A fine would been appropriate. Can someone please tell me what is wrong with someone putting up their feet on an empty seat?

Its not like she was returnig from Glastonbury with muddy boots and plastering dirt all over the seat. Even if that was the case, a fine should've still been the appropriate consequence.

Jeancy, London,

Yes-I suppose it doesn't matter what she might have trodden on/in-as long as she felt comfortable-I think we are getting obsessed with cleanliness-ask any mrsa sufferer
But she showed no respect for the property of others-I would have banned her from using this method of travel for 6 months
As to dtudying maths-- How-when she can't understand English---- "a notice in front of her warned passengers of a £100 penalty for resting their feet on seats."

Tommy, belfast uk,

If you sit down in front of a sign warning that there could be a fine for putting your feet on the seats it's not exactly rocket science to know what to do is it ,duh. Can you imagine this prat of a student teaching our children, well you can work that one out for yourselves. I personally think the stupid girl should have been fined.

Mr Viv, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Why dont you tell it like it is.
She put her feet on the seat

Terry, Hereford, UK

I see a lot of people have a weird phobia of shoes. The soles of shoes are usually only a bit grimy, and the backs of the heels (which are the parts that would rest on a seat) are even less so. The people propping up this strange social rule sound hysterical. "Dog excrement" right back at you.

Felix, Nottingham,

Gaijintendo, Have you any evidence that she did abuse the conductor, without seeing the case files how can you know that? It is silly to make such presumptions, perhaps she did abuse the conductor, perhaps not. I certainly cannot deduce that from htis article. With regaurds putting feet up, I have tendonitus in my left knee, meaning my leg becomes quite painful if it is bent for long periods of time; I have me feet up on seats, but give the seat up if someone wants sit there; I take my shoes off first so its not like its hurting anyone. That said being a skin-head means people tend to be affraid to issue any instructions to me anyway. Just my 2 cents.

Jonathan Morgan, Preston, England

Once again Shakespeare is proved right - 'the law is an ass'. This was anti-social behaviour that broke a reasonable bye-law designed to make others life more reasonable (ie keeping their clothes clean) and should have been treated as such. While such symptomatic behaviour is tolerated we'll continue to see society decline. 'The thin edge of the wedge' as my dear departed Dad used to say ,but he'd probably have been battered for doing so today!

K McD, London,

They should have prosecuted her. She took her flipflops knowing it was wrong. What if she had troden in dog dirt and then transmitted it to the seat. Not very nice! I hope the train company persue the other 300.

Moore, Loughborough, Leics

It is pathetic that so many have so much petty nastiness in themselves towards this girl. Yes, it was rude to put her feet on the seat. Yes, it is not nice. But please - it is not of earth shaking importance. £100 fine? Over the top also. Perhaps £10, but first a warning.

Or why not put this Miss Jennings into the stocks and let all the perfect people throw rotten veggies at her.

Linda, New York City, USA

Let get tough on the soft targets and the criminal element will be quaking in their boots. I think not! When there is real trouble authority figures tend to become as rare as a snowman in the Shara. This really sends a strong message... in officious malevolence. A train guard who stands up against a violent passenger is sacked, while this inspector will probably be promoted. Hope he/she acts with the same zeal when confronted by something more serious.

Alan, Luton, UK

Costs should have been awarded against the train company.

S Padrille, London, England

Gaijintendo... i'm confused by your post, do you actually think the lass did something wrong worthy of criminal prosecution. The story seems to convey a 'summery' feel as they are trying to make it light hearted as obviously this case is a waste of the tax payers money and the courts time.

Frank Curland, Edinburgh,

How pathetic, all these people who think she got what she deserved. This happened to me in Spain once and a Spanish guy told me off, if the rest of my country men are so pathetic they can't even pluck up the courage to ask someone to obay a rule, and instead hide cowering behind authority as if it were a parent then you should don't deserve the freedom this country offers. I feel ashamed to be born in a country when silly, pathetic probably middle aged and old people feel this way. Get a life, or at least realise there's more to it than hiding behind others and living your scared, sour and vindictive. You ruin this country.

R Wilson, Southampton, Hampshire

"It is impossible that a flip-flop wearing, wet-watery-tear dripping student could have been obnoxious and escalated this situation. I wont hear of it! That assumption is crazy! "

Actually, that does sound pretty crazy. I'm not sure why you would make such a random assumption when nothing at all of this nature is suggested in the article.

Jospeh Spence, Richmond, Surrey

The sign threatened a 100 pound penalty. Not a criminal prosecution. I think she should sue Merseyrail. They might also rename it Miseryrail, which it surely is...

Malcolm Scarratt, Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada

Well we have made it ,well done UK 1984 has arrived.

Cliff, Newtown, wales

I have always considered Zero Tolerance to equal Zero Intelligence which strips away common sense and discretion.

Now, if it were only possible to abolish Political Correctness ....

Dennis, Portland OR, USA

Just another case of re-arranging the deck furniture on the Titanic me thinks.....

Mark, Birmingham, UK

Surely a measured response to an action is the foundation of the English legal system? It's all very well to insist on zero tolerance but a case like this is clearly a waste of time and resources. No damage was done to persons, property or reputation so a court action was not necessary. One can commit a common assault and the police can decline to prosecute, or even caution. This lady behaved reasonably when requested to remove her feet from the seat - where's the problem?

Jack Roadkill, Newtown, Wales

I completely endorse what David Carter said. It is pathetic. I have travelled on Merseyrail many times and seen unacceptable, drunken, intimidating and loutish behavior, and the train ticket inspectors do nothing. When they see a middle class student girl wearing flip flops (flip flops I ask you), then go into Terminator Overdrive.

Alan Mann, London, UK

If it had been a six-foot, fifteen stone, shaven-headed, tattooed yob he wouldn't have been challenged in the first place. Girls and old ladies, that's Merseyrail's level. And why were no costs awarded against the idiots who brought the case?

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

The magistrates were completely wrong and the chairman of the court must be a lefty do gooder. The time has come to make people obey common decency. Too often people put their feet on the seats of public transport. Some may have clean shoes but many don't. Why should everyone be saddled with this rudeness and complete lack of thought for others. A fine may have set an example and perhaps stopped some of the unthinking louts from doing the same.

Edward Trevor, MBE, St Helier, Jersey

Sorry, but, if I'm on a quiet train at the end of a tiring day, I put my feet up on the seat same as countless others do. And, yes, I do it in my home, too. If a person's footwear is covered in mud, fair enough, it's out of order, but this is a fuss about nothing and anyone who thinks it's heinous and antisocial needs to get a life.

Ian Davies, Basingstoke, UK

I bet the result would have been very different if the offender had been a 15 year old boy wearing a hoodie, rather than a press friendly photgenic middle class girl

Damon, London,

I think everyone's missing an important point here. Regardless of the fact that it was antisocial to put shoes on a seat (which well brought up people should know; Miss Jennings may or may not have actually seen the sign) the point is that Merseyrail themselves advertised that the punishment was a fine of £100. Nothing about being taken to court, and there was absolutely no reason for it. It just goes to show how most people in positions of minor responsibility have over-inflated egos and an exceedingly poor sense of judgement.

Emily, Cambridge, UK

I can see that it would be beneficial for everyone if people kept their feet on the floor... still how can this be a criminal offence?
Surely if one breaches the rules of the train, then one is liable for a breach of contract. The penalty is £100 which they could enforce in a County Court, like the rest of us.

Why making this criminal?

Kai, manchester, England

Today it's flip-flops - tomorrow it's hiking boots. It amounts to total disregard for other people who will use that seat later. What has she walked though? What is on the soles of her shoes? Chewing gum, dog mess or just dust and dirt; whatever - it's going to spoil the seat and other peoples clothing. Some people put their feet (and bags and other stuff) on seats quite deliberately to intimidate others; to prevent anyone sitting there. Heavy handed reaction maybe but zero tolerance is the way to go.

RBingham, Lauzun, France

typically, the courts stick up for the victim again, the one who broke the rules, the one that costs us by going against the very standards of decency that the country now lacks. Everyone complains about the breakdown of society, yet when push comes to shove breaking the rules is acceptable!!! This student can read, can differentiate between right and wrong, yet made the decision to go against the rules and really should heave learned teh lesson and be glad to have had a close shave, not to be coming out with the usual tirade of defending an outright defiance of a rule...who decides what rules can or cannot be broken? where does it stop??

Darren Sharpe, Auckland, NZ

Doesn't this rather sum up the way Britian has descended into managing petty issues and not facing up to tackling the more serious issues. What type of management is prepared to back up a case such as this all the way to court?
Surely, someone, somewhere could have said "hold on - what are we doing?" - But no - far easier to tackle a "youngster" reading a magazine with their feet up, than to sort out the loud obnoxious larger swilling youths that seem to populate our railways countrywide.

Just another example of little management "Majoring in minor issues"

Steve Morton, Ascot, UK

An Absolute Discharge is still a conviction. Not a lot of people know that..

Stu Peters, North Sydney, Nova Scotia

British public transport is dirty enough without people putting their feet/shoes on the seat. So while I agree some punishment is in order - such as an on the spot fine - I do wonder who allowed the case to go to court, when the cash-for-honours group were let off.

roger, bristol,

if this girl had been a yob, the inspector would have been too scared of him to reprimand him. Although she clearly had little respect for the furniture and others who had to sit on it, its hardly a capital crime. I agree with many on here, why on earth isn't the legal system dealing with real crimes instead of wasting its resources on this nonsense?

Dianne Aslett, Birmingham, England

Great, she will not do it again and others with the same selfish attitude will think twice rather than risk the hassle.

Anne, dumfries,

I personally have put my feet on seats of trains all over England, most of them are that dust ridden though you need a mask to cover your face for fear of choking.

This is completely ridiculous my merseyrail. Even the notion of a fine is absurd. I am delighted to have left England, the whole place has gone to the dogs

The Satisfied Customer, Sydney, Common Sense

Tell me again how a private company has the right to bring a CRIMINAL prosecution against an individual?

James, manchester,

I agree that she should just have received a fixed penalty notice but as a teacher I would not want a student teacher who puts her feet up on seats entering the profession. Teachers need to set good examples for children and putting your feet up on a seat on public transport is clearly anti social behaviour! I applaud Merseyrail for their zero tolerance policy. I just wish more companies would do the same.

rosemary, IW,

Also from the Times :-
"A driver who crashed the car he had just received for his 18th birthday, killing two friends, has walked from court with a £250 fine."

So killing two people is only 2.5 times as bad as putting your flip-flops on a train seat?

Prosecuting people who damage the trains is reasonable, but a large fine for merely resting ones feet on the seat sounds like the worst excesses of Stalin or Hitler. What is the fine for etching the windows or "tagging" the seat back?

Out here in the colonies, we still know what common sense is.

Bryan, Auckland, New Zealand

It really shows Merseyrail in a terrible light, I have commuted on Merseyrail, several years prior, and must admit, that then, the service was very good. Why they started placing these rules was due to unwholesome louts damaging the train in away. However this is an exception which should not have been brought to the courts to decide. One step beyond I think. Maybe an over zealous inspector. Adding to the fact that the inspector from the face of the article, put the young lady in a terrible state adds fuel that the inspector is at fault and should be sacked from gross imcompetence. Travellers are customers and should be shown the right respect, even if they are in error.

Peter Hagan, Liverpool, England

It sounds like this case is getting special treatment because the young lady is middle class.

Putting your feet up on the seat opposite you is fine - so long as you're not wearing footwear, and your shoes or socks are clean!!

It's standard practice in the Nordic countries, for example.

But putting your FOOTWEAR on the seat opposite is not fine at all. It's unhygienic and inconsiderate.

The fact that they were 'flip flops' is irrelevant. Mentioning them is just a way of creating the impression that what she did was 'ok' really.

It wasn't, and she was wrong.

Steve Davis, worcester, England

She clearly was wearing flip flops at the time her feet were on the seat, as in "she took her flip-flops off the seat." This is a disgusting habit and effectively says, "I don't care if I dirty your clothes as long as I am ok".

The court case was excessive but a fine would have been appropriate.

Ray George, Bristol, England

This ludicrous case was wisely thrown out. Yet a specimen of Ms Abrams' DNA, including her complete genome as a human being, has presumably nevertheless been put permanently on police file, in accordance with the policy of this Orwellian government of taking and keeping DNA even when there is no conviction. That is to say a 19 year old girl who displeased some jobsworth on a train is being made the subject of a measure originally designed to help catch rapists and murderers. Yesterday we heard that an appeals court judge has called for EVERYONE in this country to be forced to share their DNA with the British government. Neither in Putin's Russia, nor In Iran, North Korea, China, nor any other state whose contempt for human freedom this Labour governemnt condemns is such a practice in place, nor so many citizens' DNA data already kept permanently on file, nor so many covert surveillance cameras (over 4 000 000 and counting) in place to spy on the population. Think about it.

Brendan, Exeter,

Merseyrail is a bloody disgrace. People should boycott their trains,walk to work,or buy a bike.
Totally unacceptable behaviour by a company worthy of censure,it's public relations are a disaster area.

Edwina Rigby, Blackburn, England

So can we fine Transport for London everytime I have to travel on someone else's feet in the morning's or stand underneath someone's armpit (eventhough i've waited for five trains to clear ahead of me) - get your priorities straight, no wonder we're where we are!

Keith, london, uk

I applaud that the rules were upheld, but taking her to court just seems like bullying to me. There are so many other things the time and money could have been used for. Besides, surely the fine would have been enough?

Johny from London: I am a student, and I assure you that I shower once a day, always wear clean clothes and am known as the 'clean-freak' of the condo; we are not all 'strangers to soap and water'!

Kathryn Lees, Hull, East Yorkshire

when i were a lad we didn't have trains. we used to go home on donkey. aye.

Kambiz Shahri, Pretoria, South Africa, Gauteng

She was stupid (and so were her parents for reportedly clapping in court , anti social, and a poor example to anyone she presumes to teach. However a fixed fine would have been more appropriate. Fortunately she did not get off completely as she will have to pay her own costs.

David , Manchester, UK

“To be punishing a promising young student who could end up with a criminal conviction is crazy.”

emily, uk,

"Our potential maths teacher was quite blatantly flouting a bye-law in the face of signs warning her of the consequences of her actions -- but she was trying to "get away with it". I agree. Why should any student be considerate about other people's furniture now?

Marcella Carmen, Birmingham,

To all those who claim that public transport used to be much more civilised in times gone by, herewith a couple of bus-conductor jokes from the 1960's:

1. Conductor, on the platform, to a passenger on the street, wanting to board the bus: "Sorry, madam, we're full."
Passenger: "And how long will the next bus be?"
Conductor: "Thirty-five feet, like this one."
Passenger: "And will there be a cheeky monkey on the platform, like you?"

2. Passenger, seated, turns round to the conductor on the platform: "'Ere, conductor, this bus says 'Ebden Bridge on the front, and it's going to Ogden Bridge."
Conductor: "Yes, Madam - it says 'India' on the tyres, but we're not going there."

These jokes were possible in the days before "political correctness" was imported from the United States. Now they're taboo. It would be an interesting question to ask whether our present-day society is more dictatorial than that of the former Soviet Union...

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

It really annoys me that people think all students are ill-mannered, smelly, insolent etc. I'm a second-year student who never puts my feet on seats on public transport, gives up my seat to elderly/disabled people if they need it, says 'please' and 'thank you', asks if I may leave the dinner table (oh, and also showers every day, shock horror).....I was not educated at a private school (in my experience those people tend to be ruder anyway) and I am not merely an 'exception' - lots of my friends are respectful of older people, like me. Of course what Miss Jennings did was wrong, but a I'm sure a verbal reprimand would have ensured she did not do it again. I'm also sure that there must be loads of middle-aged teachers (and doctors, and lawyers....) out there who speed when driving etc, so to suggest she should now not be allowed to be a teacher is laughable.

Kate, Newcastle,

Glad to see our overworked judicial system is prioritising efficiently. We don't want them wasting time on burglars, armed-robbers, murderers, rapists and child molestors when there are still young girls that have the audacity to rest flip-flopped feet on the seat of a railway carriage!

All the same, I'd be interested to know whether this same heroic rail-enforcer and guardian of train upholstery would have been quite so scrupulous in applying his rules if the feet had belonged to 3 or 4 hoody-clad yobs..... Some how I doubt it.

Mark, Birmingham, UK

I think taking the matter to court was a bit too much. A £1000 penalty though could be "educational". I think these days people just don't have any respect for each other. The first thing they do when they get on a train/bus, they put their feet on seats. And they DON'T take their shoes off, as they do it in Japan.... because here they don't care about the next person who will be sitting on that seat. What does really putting your feet on seats does to you? Makes your blood reach your brain? I am not that old actually but i feel like saying that IN OUR DAYS our parents actually used to tell us how to behave and tought us to respect other people. Do you ever pay attention how trains and buses look late at night? They are just like one huge trash bin! People turned into pigs. And maybe if the government took some actions, e.g. putting more trash bins at bus stops, etc., London wouldn't look like a big trash damping place. In general, it is sad - people don't care about each other.

Ruth, London,

There seems to be a practise of
IF YOU CAN'T CATCH THE REAL CRIMINALS -
CRIMINALISE THE ONES YOU CAN CATCH.
The inspector involved was obviously low on his monthly quota of points gained for arrests and fines. Or maybe he is on a percentage as some police forces in some Southern states of America are.

G J BUNTON, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE

For those who say she should have recieved the standard fine, do you not think the stress of being summoned to court sufices as punishment enough? its not as if she'll be doing it again! this was another rediculous attempt for the rail companies to make more money

Paul, bath, somerset

To be fair to miss Flowery-Dress, the lawyers would emphasise whatever factor would benefit their employer. Had she been poor, I feel sure the defence would have mentioned her stirling efforts despite council estate background and how a conviction would mean she could only serve in McDonalds. Even if she had been obnoxious, that's not the offence she was charged with. The question that concerned the magistrates was whether the action Merseyrail was an appropriate use of the court's time and power.

I like magistrates. They use common sense. You might not always agree with their conclusions but they are normally so much more sensible than following the letter of the law.

On what has been reported, an on the spot fine would have been the most appropriate method of dealing with such breaches of by-laws.

Derek Smith, Brighton, UK

Before we reintroduce the death penalty for every misdemeanour, how about keeping to the facts here?

The young lady was not trying to avoid punishment, and the point the magistrate was making was that a fixed penalty would have served the purpose. Had she failed to comply with the request to remove her feet, then maybe she deserved to go to court. But she did, so let's concentrate on reducing the backlog of court cases by focussing on the ones that really need the time and expense involved.

Tony Wickham, New Milton, Hants

This madness is the consequence of mixing criminal law with government social policies in order to create the need for such things as ID cards so that the state has ever more power to control one's life by way of the police and the courts over the most trivial of incidents, which can now be classified as crimes.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland

"Had she been convicted..... the teenager could have struggled to realise her ambition of becoming a maths teacher" ???!!

Once she starts teaching maths to the youth of Britain she might feel she's been convicted anyway.

Amy, London,

I would hate to ruin a good story with the facts, but an absolute discharge is in fact a conviction and will appear on a criminal record.

If the young lady has indeed received an absolute discharge, then she has not 'won' her case. She has been convicted but the court has chosen not to take any action against her.

Nervous, Sussex, UK

She should have been convicted.

Cant she read? If she is a promising student, surely she can read the sign? Also, she also has no respect for others property, she is inconsiderate, and deserves to be held accountable.

ken, Sunderland, England

And to put things in proportion there's this...

"Lax maintenance regime led to Cumbria rail crash

The faulty points that caused the Grayrigg train derailment in Cumbria were not inspected because a maintenance worker went home early and his supervisor failed to notice that the points had not been checked, according to a report by Network Rail."

Martin Jenkins, Ascot,

I don't follow why it is said Miss Jennings has escaped a criminal conviction - an absolute discharge is only possible after a finding or admission of guilt: it is therefore a conviction which goes on the accused's record.

Eleanor Wright, London,

Is this any more ludicrous than giving a criminal record to a young woman for reading out the names of British soldiers killed in conflict?

Ray Warren, Dartmouth,

If you say certain behaviour will result in a penalty and then don't enforce it, nothing will improve. People think they can flout rules because they are hardly ever enforced. I think it is time to put respect for other people and their property on the agenda.

Terence Waywell, Stamford, UK

Putting dirty shoes on train seats seems to be part of the scene nowadays in a culture where nobody can be disciplined, even at home. However, Merseyrail and other rail companies could almost eliminate the problem at one fell swoop by installing much more unidirectional seating with adequate legroom and/or installing longitudinal seating like the London Underground. Having face to face seating closely spaced is an open invitation to abuse these days.

Philip Wylie, London, UK

Just another case of 'jobs worth' where you give someone a uniform and a little authority and it turns them into some kind of power-hungry titan. So she broke the rules but how can putting your feet on a seat be classed as a criminal act? Do you take someone to court because they didn't wipe their feet before stepping into your porch? A simple verbal warning would have been sufficient. As far as clips round the ear, it's no wonder that we have wars and gun crime when people treat a simple transgression with violence.

Angus, Dundee, Scotland

Yes, at first one thinks "how crazy...!" to pack a 'nice' young girl like this off to court... But then - (it's true...!) - her misbehaviour may have been mild but it was also selfish and boorish - ergo; thuggish and (potentially) dangerous - like the country this one has become and which so many of us (claim to) deplore...

The only way out IS zero tolerance...! The ONLY way...!!
It was good that she (this one) was made to go to court... And good that the circumstances were aired and that she (this one) got off...! So cut out the tut-tutting... If we really don't want flip-flops (and much, much worse) in our faces - this is how it's got to be...!!!

John Jay, Walton on Thames, UK

Crazy to make a court case out of it. However, such loutish behaviour should be more often addressed instead of ignored. But if this had been a real yob my guess is the inspector would have been too scared to make an issue of it.

Dianne Aslett, Birmingham, England

It's simple. They are a private company and she is a customer. They should have no right in law to fine her let alone prosecute given that she caused no damage. What "the company" needs is some stiff competition and then customers could go elsewhere as with any other business. Perhaps next time they have a rail accident the law will be applied fully to the directors. Corporate manslaughter comes to mind, then let's see how they would like a criminal record or a long custodial sentence. If you live in a glass house don't throw stones and have your customers on your side - no that's too difficult.

john bell, Romagne, france

I recently travelled on the Merseyrail service to Chester for the first time and was surprised to see so many conspicuous signs asking people not to put their feet on the seats. It made me think about what might have been on the soles of my shoes and why I shouldn’t do it. I didn’t and neither did anybody else that I could see. If some yob had got onto the train and put his/her feet up I would have expected them to be punished, why should this girl be treated differently. She couldn’t possibly not have seen the notices and blatantly ignored a very reasonable request

A Robinson, Ramsey,

I must admit that while agreeing that this is a ridiculous case to take to law, at the same time I fully endorse Geoff Lancaster's views on her suitability as a role model.
Also, it is actually extremely irritating to get onto a train and have to sit down where someone has just - usually unwillingly - removed their dirty feet.

Ros Taylor, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

I can't believe you are all so precious. Being of small stature, I regularly stand on a train seat to put my bag up, and then sit down on the self-same seat. And just how often does anyone really walk in dog's droppings? Generally you'd notice and take remedial action if you had a nose on you at all! I'd personally have far more of an objection to what people do with drippy umbrellas. The poor girl certainly didn't deserve a criminal record, which apart from anything else would prevent her even so much as visiting any country for which a visa is required, never mind emigrating.

Jenifer, Dublin, Ireland

To Andrew in Karuizawa: I live in Japan as well and putting your feet anywhere but on the floor is absolutely rude. Children are allowed as their feet don't reach the floor but it is unacceptable behavior for anyone over 8 years old. Even crossing your legs so that your shoes are proximate to anothers pant legs is unacceptable. I'm in Tokyo. Maybe Nagano is different.

While I don't feel a promising young student should suffer a criminal record, isn't this just an example of a larger issue? Young people in the West just have no respect for others or simple rules intended to insure people don't grate on each others nerves; nerve grating that does become antisocial behavior that does lead to violence and there's way too much violence in communities at home (West). Adults are terrified of teenagers and it should be the other way around.

Jane, Tokyo, Japan

For me the only interesting thing about this is would we be having this debate or interest if it had been a 19 year old working class boy.... everyone would be saying he got what he deserved, he would had taken his punishment without any bother and if he hadent it still wouldn't had made the news

The reason why it hit the news is because its a middle class girl who is arrogant and thinks the laws dont belong to her and other middle class people who also think the same.

Ewan, sutton coldfield, england

82 comments so far. It's good to know what inspires the British public. Meanwhile, in the real world....

Bruce, Newcastle,

I've lived in the UK for four years, and most Brits seem quite normal pleasant and friendly. But, then something like this comes up, and all of a sudden, I realise that I'm living amongst some very strange people.

Put me down in support of freedom for feet! I will willingly take my chances with dust and dog mess and squished snails to give my fellow humans some freedom. I will willingly risk my trousers so that some poor caged human can -- occasionally -- put his or her feet on a seat.

And, those of you who disagree? Please send your names. I want to have the pleasure of forbidding my daughter from marrying of you, even though I'm sure she has enough sense on her own. Mercy, a sense of humour, and a sense of proportion are important character traits.

A foreigner, South of Manchester, UK

Taking her to court does seem over the top, but I think anyone who puts the bottom of their shoes on seats that other people are going to sit down on does deserve to be fined at least. It is such an inconsiderate thing to do.

We also don't know what this girl's attitude was when confronted by the inspector (but given the lack of respect that she has shown in putting her dirty shoes on the seats, it may well not have been good.)

Lou , London, UK

As-if a conviction of this nature would bar her from teaching what absolute over-dramatic tosh!!

The only persons barred from teaching are those that quite rightly should be - violent offenders and paedophiles. Like the Secretary of State would barr this young lady?

Talk about making a drama out of nothing. How else can the las be upheld and property protected. The train company should appeal.

Nick, Cardiff,

About time people learned to behave. A criminal record might make these selfish people apprecaite whet it means to have concern for others. I'm sick of getting trousers and jackets soiled from these idiot's lack of concern for others.

Dan, London, England

What is this country coming to? The fact that Merseyrail are the ONLY train company in the country with this policy shows how insane it is. Yes, nobody likes to sit on a muddy seat but putting an upstanding young girl through the courts and potentially wrecking her career for putting her feet on a train seat? For God's sake that's hardly criminal damage! Outrageous case.

Danielle Blake, Kempsford,

Our potential maths teacher was quite blatantly flouting a bye-law in the face of signs warning her of the consequences of her actions -- but she was trying to "get away with it". Is this really the example that teachers should be giving to our children ? Quite frankly we should be doing everything possible to prevent this young lady from becoming a teacher. She should have had to suffer the consequences of her anti-social behaviour and not be allowed to "get away with it". What signal does this send out to "yob culture" ?

boris, Bedfordshire, UK

"Finally a bit of common sense from the bench. But what a country. Hate it and leave it. Or in the case of Miss Jennings, graduate and leave it. Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano" Do many peple know where Karuizawa is? I hope it is a peacefull, prosperous nad friendly place where all people are equal and there are no inconsiderate people around. Hopefully Andrew likes it there and will stay there as obviously good manners, and obeying rules to him are up to the individual. Warning signs only apply to him if he wants them too. The company may have over reacted but then they have a problem of inconsiderate people like the student sticking perhaps dirty smelly feet and shoes on seats and other passengers complaining when they sit in the dirt. The company has taken the opportunity to warn everyone do not put your feet on our seats - clear enough and if Andrew thinks that is a reason for emigrating well perhaps we are better off without him in Britain.

Phil, Edinburgh,

What about anyone who had to sit on any residue left by the brain dead student's feet? Would they have had to dust, wipe or clean the seat before sitting down - another case of other people having to clean up the mess created by flip flop wearing yobs.

CLIVE, Shortlands, Kent

John, Dundee, UK So you are saying that 'back in the good old days' strangers assaulting young women and children was acceptable. Thank god we don't live in that kind of society any more.

Justin Keeble, Ascot, England

As a parent in favour of corporal punishment as an alternative to psychological punishment, I wonder how the 'clip round the ear' advocates suggest I should administer the punch while minimising the risk of mild brain damage?

A Clarke, London,

What a shame that this has come to a failed prosecution after all, now what have the poor old conducters on the miseryrail now got to offer the customers ? Now all the miscreants can knowingly put their feet (shoes included) on the empty seats ever sure that no punishment will befall them. We need to realisticaly manage these issues so that passengers can spend their time on the trains without feeling threatened

Jock McDonald, Dundee, Scotland, land of the brave

Brad, accepting it as the norm does not make it right. The general consensus here is that too often of late we read/hear/witness a private company drag a less threatening individual through the courts on such a basic on often harmless issue whilst other pressing matters requiring urgent attention are left to dwindle.

Gregory Irgin, London, England

Are you allowed to sit on their seats? or is that too damaging as well....

Keith, Beds,

Miss Jennings was mentioned by name. Why are we not told the name of the stupid inspector who wasted the courts time and caused such distress.

David Gwilliam , Leicester, England

They should focus on the fare dodgers and quit wasting money and time on this trivial matter.

John, Birmingham,

I'm sorry guys and gals but i gotta throw my 2 cents in here. The most important issue here is: she had her feet...on a seat. Thats it. Is this really the most serious crime that can be committed on a train?! I can't believe people are defending or admonishing her over putting her feet up?! This is ridiculous! How petty is our society that we're actually willing to prosicute someone for relaxing?! Millions of people per day use public transport and aside form chewing gum i've never heard anyone complain that their seat was dirty, its a case of happiness in ignorance. But as soon as they see someone with their feet up then they react like their an enemy of society. Its about time we bucked our ideas up people and started getting serious about real issues. We're allowing ourselves to be swayed by people who are just trying to find new ways to increase their chairpersons wages. Stop caring about issues like this and start looking at the real threat of ID cards and DNA store

Phil, Birmingham,

I agree that a Court appearance was extreme in this case however that is not the issue. Had Ms Jennings shown a little RESPECT for the property of the rail operator and for any other passengers having to sit where she chose to plant her feet, then she would never have found herself in this position.

D. Pearson, Edinburgh, Scotland

re-assign that train operator and the inspector to keep the bathrooms and loos sanitary! better to make an example of fascist behavior than a young girls attitude. prideful operation of a transport includes humanitarian understanding of human needs, not the condition of the hardware, sheeeesh!. go after the heroin, alcohol and vomiting derelects who truly disgrace the city and the safety of ALL.

pete krohn, quaker hill, ct USA

I can understand the comfort of putting ones feet up but what about the next person who has to sit on a dirty seat. If the young lady involved had ruined a dress through someone else putting dirty shoes on the seat she would soon be moaning!

barry chang, reading, UK

I agree she should just have taken her flip flops off, and rested her bare feet on the seat. What is the har min that. I travel a lot by train and often rest my feet on the seat opposite, but always slip off my heels first.

helem pickup , bristol, avon

I think Merseyrail's 'zero tolerance' policy is a great one. So much so that I've decided to copy it and adopt a "zero tolerance" stance to Merseyrail's poor service. I hope those who read this will join me in this endevour. Finding a seat to put her feet on was a great achievement for Kathleen Jennings and must have taken some doing.

John Gray, Liverpool,

This not a trivial matter. The soles of your shoes come in contact with all kinds of dirt including dog excrement. We should not have to inspect the seats before we sit because inconsiderate (mainly young) people disregard the rules, it is after all only common courtesy to others. If you are wearing a light coloured skirt or trousers, the soiling can be very embarrassing to say the least

bill carr, Turku, Finland

im a bit fet up of comments like "shes a student, so is probibly a stranger to soap and water" why does everyone act like this towards students? try traveling on a train sometime and you might see that people with feet on the seats are the last thing you have to worry about. the seats are sticky and horrible, theres litter all over the floor, the air con never works so they are hot and sticky (god forbid having windows that open - a child might loose their arm!) and more often than not i end up on a train so crowded i can hardly breathe due to being jammed up against the wall by the shear number of people on a single carrage train.

If the train companies want respect, they have to earn it!

james, southampton,

She was completely in the wrong and I hope the court case frightened her into not doing it again. Putting your feet -whether in flip flops or army boots- on to a seat is completely unacceptable. Too many people behave on public transport as if they are at home. I actually plucked up enough courage to ask a man on a London bus to take his shoes off the seat in front. He said sorry, and removed them! It is not harmless and trivial - it is dirty and unhygienic in the extreme.

Jane Fraser, Wolverhampton,

My feet get very tired quickly and become a problem to walk on sometimes so putting them up is a great relief to me and often necessary. If I do so on a train, it would be without shoes and with a newspaper or something else under them (my socks are always clean) as a simple sign of respect. And I would remove them immediately if someone needed to sit down. Maybe a criminal record would be too severe, but I don't buy her innocent routine. I find many young people to be totally selfish and disrespectful of other people's or public property. She would have gotten a stiff fine from me for sure to teach her some manners.

Victor Dago, Athens, Greece

This women should have been found guilty.
She has no respect for other peoples' property. Do her parents allow her to out shoes in her sofa?

Thos is typical of the bad behaviour of students of today.
As a parent, I would not want her teaching my children and instilling such poor manners on them.

This verdict was wrong.

Mark, Coventry, UK

Although I think a criminal conviction for putting your feet on public transport seating is over the top - I am however sick to death of people putting their feet on seats on public transport. Not only does it make the seating filthy for the next user, it is also a distinct lack of respect for public facilities!!! I wonder if Kathleen Jennings who thinks Merseyside should 'target proper criminals' also feels herself 'above' the law in this respect!! Personally I wouldn’t want someone like her teaching the youth of the future!! Her father 's remark they 'pick on easy targets' - prompts the suggestion he take a long hard look at his parenting skills and the message he gives his daughter in the process. The idiotic defence suggests asking people to take their feet off the seats. What planet is he on? You can’t reason with people who behave this way without there being a risk attached. Hasn’t the magistrate any sense? Christine Abrams reprimanding Merseyside for acting on policy is???

Halima, London, UK

Lots of people have committed this crime, and if the policy really were "zero tolerance" a huge number of English people would be hauled up in court for what is essentially a verbal wrist slapping, then slapped with a criminal record. But it's not. This is one girl of thousands who's been made an example. Needless to point out, not every perpetrator of this offence ends up being summoned. Punishment is not the issue, she should have been fined like the sign warned.

But get a life! To use this one instance to declare that she is unclean, ignorant and ( along with her dirty unemployed student accomplices) turning the country into a pain for others is grossly overreacting. Offering these judgmental opinions on a person because they committed the sickening act of putting their feet on a seat is pathetic.

Hannah, Bradford, England

Meanwhile in the south east. yobboes race cars around an industrial estate until the early hours, creating hell for local residents, and the police try sweet reason (or turning a blind eye) to solve the problem, as they do for so many other things that, not so long ago, were punishable offences like dangerous driving, motor-cyclists achieving racing speeds on country roads, being drunk & disorderly etc etc, many of which seem to fall between the police force and the local authority, both of which are quick to point out it's somebody else's responsibility. Personally I think the so-called PC culture is used as an excuse to do damn-all, a wonderful reason to avoid responsibility. Which leaves the field clear for Jobsworths like this railway inspector to exercise his little power and waste everyone's time & money, as well as risking
someone's career (clearly going to be much more rewarding than his). What a dreary and brutish country this has become...

Frank , Rye , UK

It's strange how one sees two sides of a situation depending on where its viewed from.. I quite agree that this was a ludicrous over reaction and could have ended the career of a young student.

But regularly, every Saturday, I get the train from Birmingham University station to Lichfield - and, unfailingly, despite signs on every window warning about fines for shoes being put on seats, students do exactly that. These kids who are supposed to represent our future have not the slightest regard for anyone's clothes and, if you glare at them as I frequently do, you are simply met with an insolent stare and I long for some inspector to catch them at it and fine them.

The court case was an over-reaction, certainly. But sometimes you just long for an example to be made of some of these teenagers who appear to have lost any concept of common courtesy and consideration for others.

Brian Fargher, Birmingham, United Kingdom

And you thought the Stasi had been lost forever? No, they are alive and well in the lunatic asyum called Britain.
Give it five years and they would have been able to find this 'criminal' by simply taking a DNA swab from the seat.
Britain is a nightmare of gigantic proportions.

harry wolf, Vancouver, Canada

To Gaijintendo from Glasgow. Excellent comment. "old-deathy-dying people" Ha! I love it! A good laugh is all this silly topic is good for.

Mark, London,

So It's all right to come round to your house and put my feet on your sofa. I'm right with the train company. Just respect thing that don't belong to you.

Chas, Winchester, Hampshire

"a notice in front of her warned passengers of a £100 penalty for resting their feet on seats"
If she wants to be a teacher, she should start by learning to read.
Then she should learn some respect.
It is indicative of the 'justice' system of this 'country' that a person can sit in front of a notice warning them of a fine for committing an offence, commit that offence, be caught, taken to court, and still get away free without paying the fine!

Marco, bhm, uk

This article is fundamentally wrong!

An absolute discharge is a conviction without a sentence; hence the young lady in question HAS BEEN convicted of an offence.

Chris Wilson, Sedbergh,

I am sorry B Freeman, but you sir (or madam) are so out of touch with reality that I am actually seething with anger as I write this. Perhaps Germany in the 30's would have been a better place and time for you to have lived.

Your response is absolutely pathetic and you really need to get out more.

David, Toronto, Ontario

Its heartening to know that we live in an enlightened age where it is illegal for adults to physically assault children when they see fit. Whilst the 'clip around the ear' is a thing of the past, we need to replace such summary justice with a more appropriate form of punishment; bring back the workhouse!

nick, kenilworth, uk

Chloe - its called a figure of speach. it dosnt litrally meen she would get whacked round the head, its just a term to say she would get told off.

Paul, bath, somerset

I love how jaded with stereotypes the view of the average student is. Reading through these comments, I've learnt that all students are not only extremely disrespectful, to the point that they would instantly resort to irrational swearing if asked politely to do something, but apparently they're also unhygienic and foreign to cleaning! I mean seriously, what are these concepts based on?
I also can't believe that people are supporting the rail service for effectively trying to give someone a *criminal record* for resting their feet on a seat. There are actual criminals out there, ones who cause real harm to society and the people within it and yet courts have their time wasted with something so obscenely insignificant. This case deserves to be treated as 'ludicrous'.

Bob Bobson, Monmouth,

As usual the comments on The Times represent the view of the reactionary, anti-youth old folks; this girl isn't an ASBO-flouting, happy-slapping chav - she's a young person working hard towards a rewarding career. The view that this discharge sends out a message that authority cannot be respected and this causes the supposedly endemic youth violence is ridiculous.
How about a bit of encouragement or a positive report on young people today? The vast majority of us aren't the out-of-control criminals you read about in the tabloids, we are hard-working people trying to set ourselves up for rewarding careers and lives.

Student (Aged 20), Manchester, UK

lets forget the criminals and pick on a young lady ~that seems to sum up the uk's attitute at this moment and it is not getting any better!

Stephen, Livingston, Scotland

Once we've locked up all the students for resting their flip-flops on train seats and the daily city commuters for doing 32 mph in a 30 mph zone, perhaps we could target the less serious crimes like rape, murder, gangland shootings and terrorist attacks?

I didn't realise our criminal justice system was so under-employed that it could so easily spare valuable time to deal with such minor offences....

When can I expect a policeman to visit to investigate the burglary of my elderly parents' home last year. At the time I was told it did not even warrant a police visit as it was not considered a 'serious' enough crime.

Now the boys in blue have so much time on their hands I await their visit with increasing anticipation......

Mark, Birmingham, UK

Perhaps a "target driven" employee, being rewarded for the number of miscreants he apprehends? It's a widespread problem: go for the soft targets. Had the guard been dealing with a large muscular gentleman I bet he'd have used his discretion. Similar to speeding motorists, easier to fine someone doing 35mph in a 30 limit than to go for the far more dangerous teenage lad with a few beers inside him and a car full of his mates doing 70+ in a 30 limit.
Maybe Merseyrail could provide a breakdown by gender, ethnicity, physical build, age of their list of 600 other similar offenders and see how that correlates with their client profile. Perhaps a freedom of information act request? And what are the instructions to their inspectors? Are they rewarded for capturing "criminals" like this girl?
The correct action in this case would be to draw the girl's attention to the policy and only go further if she compounded the problem with intransigence. Thank-you for sensible magistrates.

bill roberts, sheffield, uk

Just shows how much time Mersey Rail staff have on their hands... I've barely got time to write this comment.

Anupama , london, uk

I am surprised at the amount of pomposity in the comments here. Not all students are abusive wastrels and a danger to environmental health - nobody actually knows what this girl is like, so there's no need for sweeping assumptions as to her character or intelligence, or those of her peers. There's a huge difference between the overt rejection of the rules by an antisocial and an accident. She's not an anarchist, she's a girl who made a mistake.

All the conductor had to say was "Excuse me, please don't put your feet on the seat". Did Miss Jennings hurl abuse back? No. If she had, then a prosecution/fine would have been entirely justified. So she won't do it again. Does this mean all minor misdemeanours should be dragged through the courts? No. If only people could be as vehement in their condemnation of real crimes.

I'm sure if the snobbish cynics circulating this page had been caught with their feet on a seat they would have happily been prosecuted.

Melissa, Lancashire,

Even though this is obviously entirely wrong there are still some idiots who find justification in the action, which is precisely why the legal system in the UK is up the spout.

tatiana, london,

I can fully understand why people want nothing to do with the public transport system when they get treated this way.

Its funny, the government wants people off the roads to try and reduce congestion, but all it looks like to me is that in the UK you have a choice of which bureaucracy is "less painfull" to deal with. Congestion zone charging (ouch), or as the above, idiocy in by-law making and enforcement (double ouch).

Rather than living in a world of penalties, wouldnt it be nice to see some rewards? Catch a bus and get a discount off your petrol tax, work from home and get a discount on your road tax, there would be less costs to the government through less road works, and so on.

I can only dream...

Roberto Maietta, London,

Flip flops are as capable of carrying dog excrement onto a seat as Doc Martins, That why the bylaw is in place.
There is an old adage, "dont play with fire if you don't want to get burnt"
So DON'T put your feet on the seat ,doing so indicates a disregard of common sense and a lack of good manners.
In discharging the case the court have effectively told the world to ignore the bylaw ,not a good example at all.

m wilkinson, telford, uk

Ridiculous situation, rude child didn't her parents tell he not to put her feet on furniture with shoes on. Will this country ever be normal again?

Jane, Scunthorpe, UK

I have to say that there are too many travellers who put their feet up on the seats but to make an example of just one is ridiculous.
A warning would have been more appropriate.

Whilst we are "in Chester", it would be far more useful if whoever runs Chester Railway Station were taken to court over the general state of the toilets there.

When travelling between Bangor and Sheffield, in the last year I twice attempted to use the toilet facilities in the Station but on both occasions they were in such a disgusting condition that I had to come out.

On one occasion the walls were smeared from top to bottom with excrement. Not a good impression for visitors to a town which has such lovely shops.

I now avoid Chester altogether by choosing a different route.

Rosy Knight, Sheffield, UK

So you're telling me its bad to sit on a seat that people put there feet on? well has it ever occured to you that on that seat people have repeatedly passed wind and more than likely sat on that seat after having been to the toilet? If this country can come to such a pathetic state as this then whats next? As for those adults saying that this is evidence of teenage disrespect, I ask you do you really live on this world? There is a sign saying no feat. but she stil did it, how about you do you go 61 miles per hour in the 60 zone? I rest my case!

Thomas Lewis, Northampton, United Kingdom

Funny the difference between rail operators. Travelling in the Quiet Zone carriage recently from Wolverhampton to Birmingham, the 50-something passenger on the opposite side of the train gabbled away loudly and happily on her mobile for several minutes with her boot-wearing feet comfortably ensconced on the seat opposite. The ticket inspector trotted out whilst this was happening, sat down on the seat next to her feet, waited patiently until she had finished her call and then they held a 10 minute conversation about their mutual friends and family (feet still on chair) before he disappeared to inspect other tickets....... perhaps the nepotistic-style approach was the key factor in the lack of response taken to this, or maybe it was ageist - would the inspector have ignored the offences if it was an unknown-to-him pierced or hoodied young person? Methinks not.....

S Lovell, Wolverhampton, UK

Goodness, who would have thought this article would have been read by so many perfect people!

Adam Neilson, Birmingham,

What is at stake here is the comfort of the passenger, the passenger had tired feet!

Moneyrail have been very thoughtless in the past, I pointed out on local radio that their 'blinkered' operation was costing them £1200 a night. They should provide a passenger with a footrest, because people travel on trains because they are 'shot to bits' after a day on their feet in work!!

The word 'SERVICE' should only be used by people who actually provide one!

John, Widnes, UK

And people wonder why we dont use public transport, being treated like this is disgusting, everybody buy a car and put them out of a job.

anton, immingham, england

Miss Jennings said “I hope they will target proper criminals, not someone like me.”
Ah Miss Jennings, the majority of people in Britain today are making the same mistake! We think that the laws and police are there to protect US against criminals.
That is not the way our new society of the last 25 years works. In Britain today there are hundreds of laws/ byelaws that lie in wait to catch respectable people - and by snagging us, we become criminals.

Miss paying a council tax instalment (its own special law to catch you) late paying another utility bill (bereavement illness etc) put feet on a train seat , your teenage son disobeys you, you dare hurt a burglar ... Suddenly you have a "criominal record.

It even has a name, criminalisation. But the result of diluting the status of criminal is that ordinary people begin THINKING like criminals - respect for law is diminished. Very dangerous.

Shan Morgain, Newport, Wales, UK

Complete nonsense when her father says "In my day you used to get a bang around the earhole..." I bet if someone had given his spoiled thoughtless daughter a bang round the earhole, he'd have been the first person screaming for the cops, especially if the thwack had been administered by a rail company employee.

Chloe, London,

I love it that all these middle aged poor souls are so obsessed with the fact that Miss Jennings is a student and therefore does not wash!! Do me a favour!!?? I have seen people of all ages putting their feet on trains and I don't believe Merseyrail would have sent an old man to court because of the same 'crime.' I'm not saying the girl is completely innocent but sending her to court just goes to show how completely absurd this country is getting. Give the rapists, the murderers the convictions!

Sian , Chatham , UK

I think Mersey Rail are correct in pursuing this case to court,to prove a point that there is no dicilpine taught or enforced today,which is the cause of so much violance in today's society
The magistates were wrong in their decision to give an absolute discharge,she should have been fined ,even if it was only a nominal amount, to prove to the youth of today that there are rules and that they are not exempt. She should have thought of her carreer before she put her feet on the seats. or cannot she read? But then she probably puts her feet on the furniture at home!!

B Freeman, Christchurch Dorset,

Putting shoes on seats is clearly bad form and unhygienic. But putting feet on unoccipied seats is healthy. Given the average age of the UK population, the National Health could probably save a tidy sum if passengers were allowed to relax and stretch out their legs. (Indeed, if this were possible in economy class cabins on planes it could even save a few lives!). Andrew Milner's observation from Japan is very helpful. In Switzerland, too, a country with probably the highest rail mileage per head in Europe, feet regularly rest on seats (especially in First Class) but with a newspaper or similar device to protect the seat cover. . Now that a refreshingly sensible decision has been taken by the Courts, it is time for Civil Society to promote a polite way of relaxing while travelling.

Peter Shackleford, Madrid, Spain

It's great to see this conductor is going to such lengths to attract people to use public transport.. Just a pity he wasn't on the tube the other week when that elderly man was beaten and left for dead - I wonder if he would have been as keen to enforce the company's policies then? Young people are obviously less respectful than they were in days gone by, but surely there are bigger problems to deal with than this? Fellow passengers probably wouldn't feel threatened by someone having their feet on a seat, but just might be by someone demonstrating threatening behaviour. Lets find some common sense for the sake of sanity!

Keith Singleton, Stockport, Cheshire

Thongs not flip flops - they shouldn't have been on the seat in the first place. Have a little respect.

RR, London,

A ridiculous and disproportionate legal procedure which would not have been activated at all if Miss Jennings had not been so unsociable in her behaviour.

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, England U.K.

If there is a fixed penalty, she should have been required to pay it; personally, I propose that an additional penalty of three times the standard single fare for the journey should also be exacted - once because they are using two seats, and double that to pay for cleaning the seat they have dirtied, to the detriment of some other unfortunate traveller.

For minors, fining the parents as much as their erring offspring would perhaps engender some long-lost sense of responsibility on their part. Of course, if they did not wish to pay cash, anyone could work off their penalty cleaning trains, hours to be determined as the equivalent of the national minimum wage.

Stephen Wortley, London,

Good for her, this country is going mad with political correctness. Next you'll be arrested for simply clearing your throat in public. Of course it is good manners to not put your feet up on the opposite seat, but in this case surely a reprimand would have sufficed.

Kimberley Rees, Aberystwyth,

i cannot believe how many of us overreact at such a silly thing. The guard should have just asked her politely to take her feet of the seat, which she had done anyway, and left it at that.

BIg deal!

As the post from Toronto says, that train company probably has MANY other things to worry about than people resting their feet on the seat for a moment or two...

What a way to give the company bad publicity!

Jenny, Castlebar, Ireland

I trust Ms Abrams kept her feet off "the bench"

Grub, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK

In this day and age, if the conductor had asked a student to remove her feet from the seet opposite, the conductor would be subjected to a stream of four letter invectives!!!!!!!!!!
If the bleeding hearts that want the children to do what THEY want, unpunished - and telling them not to is no punishment OR deterrent!!!!!!!!!

John Sime, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

This is such an appalling case, make the trains more reliable and safer than taking poor innocent victims to court and wasting tax payers money. Mersey-rail should compensate for wasting the court time and for causing emotional distress for the student and her parents. In addition to lost study time for the student.

Maxwell, London, UK

Wow, I'm surprised at how lucky this girl's been! But I'm also very glad that the attempt was made to enforce the feet-off rule. And finally, I feel rather frustrated at the court's protection of a clearly guilty criminal! Shame on them!!!
Hey, imagine living in a society where people respect other's property, behave considerately and best of all there's no need for these embarrassing signs...

N. Senst, Ryde, IOW,

If a potential Math Teacher thinks that it is OK to flout the rules until verbaly reprimanded they are no longer suitable to to occupy a role model position in our society. Is there really any more to say?

Geoff Lancaster, Gloucester, UK

I was on a Merseyside rail train earlier this summer and soiled seats should be the least of their concerns!

Scott Millson, Toronto, Canada

One of the major reasons for the violence of today's youngsters is that they have no respect for anyone - mainly because those in authority have shown they do not merit respect. If this young lady wants to have the charge of children she should be better disciplined than to put her feet on a seat on which someone will sit in future, possibly spoiling or at least soiling their clothes.
No wonder we are in such a state when the couryd throw out cases against those who break laws and by laws.

Shirley, Loughborough,

Why would anyone want to sit on a seat which has had somebody elses feet on it. This behavour is just plain bad mannered.

It is as bad as the parents who allow their children to stand in food trolleys, the women who insist on wearing make-up in a public swimming pool and using their mobile phones in the changing rooms despite the rules banning them from doing so. And, the best one of the lot, a boy of 13 in the ladies changing room and the mother saying he is allowed because he goes to public school!

Sue Strutton, Swindon,

Well done to the Guard who reported this unsocial behaviour.
Zero tollerance is definately called for on all Public transport systems, for the comfort and safety of all.

Michael Donohue, Bournemouth, England

Could we please now find out how many 20 stone disorderly drunks and assorted knife carrying yobs this inspector (or any inspector) has collared over the past year? The inflation of conviction statistics by bullying teenage students, business travellers and other soft targets is typical behaviour from these performance driven agencies. I'm sad to say that the police are also prone to this. Zero tolerance is actually about going in where it hurts, and if we are serious about eliminating yob culture, let's get proper resources, proper training and a bit of moral courage.

David Carter, Chelmsford, UK

In the US, sending someone to court for e.g. having her feet on a seat would generally be applauded.

I soon have to go before a judge in New York because I let my dog off the leash on an empty piece of wasteland.

There was a story in the press here recently of a man who was taken from his home in handcuffs because he missed a court date for having his dog off the leash in a park. But generally this kind of stuff is seen as completely normal over here and a news story like this one would be met with bemusement as to what the problem is.

Brad, New York, USA

I t is quite absurd that a case of miniscule proportions like this, actually made it into court at a time when we have 12,000 foreign criminals in our prisons living at our expense [56 million perrannum]. They should have been deported at the time of their conviction and this young lady should simply have received a discreet ticking off.
A sense of proportion is urgently needed, zero tolerance for serious crime and a little gentle persuasion for matters like this.

Clive Burghard, LANCING, ENGLAND

There is nothing "ludicrous" about a train company choosing to enforce a well-advertised rule in order to dissuade people from anti-social behaviour. As a student, Ms Jennings is no doubt a stranger to soap and water; however, those of us who wear clean clothes would prefer that the likes of her didn't wipe their feet on train seats before we sit on them. The fact that she "hopes to be a teacher" one day doesn't make her any less antisocial or obnoxious. And she didn't "win", as per the headline - she simply escaped a criminal record. She still owes the train company a fine.

A more accurate headline might have been "Unemployed teenager with over-developed sense of entitlement complains at possibility of incurring a punishment for a crime she admits to having committed". Let's see how much sympathy that would generate for her.

Johnny, London,

Do me a favout England, in the same paper yesterday, a man who repeatedly raped a young girl and then convinced other men to rape a 12 year old girl was sentenced to 6 years in prison, how your judicial system allows a matter like this to even reach a court room is absurd. Use those resources to pursue proper criminals. The money the state wasted on entertaining this matter could be used towards appealing 6 year sentences for child rapists so that the perpetrators feel the full extent of the law! And they say we have problems here in SA!

Cammo, Durban, South Africa

Off with her head !

Carl Teper, Jerusalem, Israel

Whilst agreeing that a court appearance is o-t-t, do we want teachers who either are unable to read a simple 'keep feet off seats' sign or are unable to understand it? Presumably, 'the public' doesn't want to sit on seats that are soiled from feet, be they flip-flopped or booted. That's why there are rules. And what use are rules without the power of enforcement? The girl's parents should take some blame in having so raised her that she ignores the rules. Come to think of it, who needs a rule to understand that seats are for bottoms? But then, having seen students sitting on dirty pavements whilst waiting for buses and filthy platforms waiting for trains, perhaps I should realise they just haven't grasped the idea of 'clean'.

Colin, Chester,

It was an over-reaction to take her to court (the penalty would've more than sufficed), but at least now she'll probably think before doing it again, which is a small victory in itself.

Andrew Milner - it is people like Miss Jennings turning the country into a pain for others. And, of course, people don't generally take their shoes off here when putting their feet on the seats.

So much attention is given to the behaviour of 'chavs' these days, but the middle classes don't set much of an example.

James Fielding, London,

In her fathers day she wouldn't be putting her feet on the seat as a 19 year old because she would have been given several dozen clips round the ears by adult strangers as a child. But no point saying in my day we got a clip around the ear-hole without including and we got a kick up the backsides from our parents and not dragged off to the nearest police station to have the stranger prosecuted. Until we put the rights of strangers to have a decent public life life above those of our own flesh and blood things will not get back to "the good old days". I saw a woman sitting on the tube last time I was in London and her young daughter of four or five was standing on the seat beside her, lots of people wanted to say something but didn't until after she'd left the scene. Until we create an atmosphere where ordinary people can feel free to speak out in these instances and get support from all other members of the public all is lost. Kids can have fun without being allowed to be ignorant.

John, Dundee, UK

The article repeatedly flip-flops between two descriptions of what happened. One moment she is taking her flip-flops off the seat, the next she is taking her feet off the seat. I assume she was taking her flip-flop wearing feet off the seat.

She was not in court for wearing flip-flops, and mostly they are irrelevant to the story. "Flip-flops" is a nice summery word. So now we are overcome with the image of a flowery, summery, maths student, teacher wannabe who has been hard done by. We must conclude the conductor is a completely heartless fool.

It is impossible that a flip-flop wearing, wet-watery-tear dripping student could have been obnoxious and escalated this situation. I wont hear of it! That assumption is crazy!

I propose a new set of laws for promising young students. We should fight tooth and nail to protect their futures, and their poor tired feet.

In addition to "priority seats" for old-deathy-dying people, there should "aspirational seats" for potential teachers.

Gaijintendo, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire

Here in Japan, putting your feet on the seat opposite (assuming it is unoccupied) is standard operating procedure. Of course everybody takes their shoes off first. But than so did Miss Jennings. Merseyrail just shot themselves in the foot; bad publicity that will cost a fortune to wash away.
Finally a bit of common sense from the bench. But what a country. Hate it and leave it. Or in the case of Miss Jennings, graduate and leave it.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano