SNP MP Alan Brown is being pursued by bailiffs for trying to dodge a fare on a London bus – the only problem is that the MP Alan Brown has never been caught dodging a fare on a London bus.

Brown first received a warrant at his house in Scotland last year, insisting he pay up for trying to scam Transport for London (TfL).

At first the MP thought the letter from a company called the London Compliance Centre was a scam but after a quick google realised that it was legitimate.

“I chased that up and initially they said sorry and that someone else must be using my details. They then told me to go make a statutory declaration at a local magistrates court to prove my innocence.

“But that actually costs. So you either pay the debt collection agency money and get it over and done with or you pay a magistrates court.”

Brown said he didn’t leave it at that and contacted the original court officer, who admitted that there had been a mix-up and cancelled the fine.

However, that wasn’t followed through, and earlier this week he received another warning from a different debt collection agency.

“They say they’ve got a warrant which effectively means they can take goods and property from my home to recover the money. The truth is, I don’t know what’s happening.”

The MP says the fare dodger probably does have the same name as him. “I’m actually pretty sure he’s legitimately called Alan Brown. He gave an address, but his address is a homeless hostel.

“I’m pretty sure it’s a genuine Alan Brown, homeless, that he’s given his true address, and, not surprisingly, when they send letters to that person at that address, they get no response.

“But how they then take the quantum leap to Alan Brown in Galston, Ayrshire is a mystery.”

Steve Burton, TfL’s director of compliance, policing and on streets said: “We’re sorry to hear of Mr Brown’s experience. We have contacted Mr Brown and will assist him in resolving this matter.”