Dental nurse among ‘Covidiots’ caught at illegal house party

ADENTAL nurse was among the 16 people who attended an illegal ‘lockdown house party’ in Plymouth, a police officer has confirmed.

Two people were arrested and 16 fined £800 each after the illegal gathering on Spindle Crescent, Plympton on Friday night.

Officers were called to the address after receiving “several reports” about a potential breach of Covid rules in the area.

They discovered the group, who do not live together, inside the front room of a property socialising and “drinking, smoking cannabis and doing NOS [nitrous oxide] canisters”.

The party-goers gave police a number of excuses for breaking the law. One told Plymouth B Section Response Officer, PC Adam Bell: “I get tested every week anyway, I’m a dental nurse.”

PC Bell was one of the first police officers to attend the illegal social gathering. He said the party-goers were “Covidiots”.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of drug offences and 16 people were issued £800 fines, the maximum fine for a breach of this nature, breaking lockdown rules.

PC Bell said two double-crewed units were initially called to the address, but due to the “volume of people and drugs” a further two units were soon called to the scene.

He said he was “lost for words” when he opened the door to all 16 people partying in the living room, and was shocked that most partygoers came up with excuses for their socialising.

Among them, many party-goers gave officers “the usual spiel that their lives are being ruined by the government and the virus won’t affect them,” he said.

“All 16 individuals had to been searched, details taken and Covid-fine issued,” PC Bell added. “One guy tried to run out the back door whilst officers were taking details, another girl provided false details initially but was caught out when her taxi arrived under a different name.”

One of the offenders told police: “Covid is a myth. I don’t believe in it. It’s the government controlling us.”