Student, 20, pays £10,000 Covid fine

A 20-YEAR-OLD student from Nottingham Trent University has paid a £10,000 fine for breaching Covid regulations by hosting a house party in Lenton.

Nottinghamshire Police says the third-year student became “one of the first people in the country” to pay the hefty fine for hosting the gathering on October 20.

The incident happened shortly before the second national lockdown in November.

Officers fined the student after warning it was illegal under the restrictions at the time to hold a gathering of more than 30 people.

The party was uncovered by Nottingham

City Council’s community protection officers while they were out on patrol, and police officers were subsequently called to assist.

Assistant

Chief Constable Steve Cooper (pictured) said: “This should send out a warning to people that it is really not worth breaking the law when it comes to Covid legislation.

“Most people in Nottinghamshire fully support and understand the reasons why the law is in place – to stop the NHS being overwhelmed by a wave of patients affected by the virus which thrives on social contact.

“Sadly there is a minority for whom enforcement is left as the only option.”

All payments of fixed penalty notice fines issued under coronavirus legislation on behalf of police forces in England and Wales are processed by the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

The money is distributed to local authorities in England and Wales, the force says.

People issued with Covid fines can choose to pay them to avoid the need to go to court.