Court / Socialising with others while Covid restrictions were in place proves costly for Lerwick man

A FIFTY five year old man has been fined £300 after he admitted allowing several people inside his home in breach of Covid-19 regulations that were in force last autumn.

Robert Fraser, of Lerwick’s St Magnus Street, pleaded guilty to culpably and recklessly allowing a number of individuals who did not live with him into his house on 30 October last year.

He admitted breaching Health Protection (Coronavirus) Scotland regulations and increased the risk of incident and transmission of the virus, endangering the lives of those visiting, at a time when strict limits on indoor socialising were in force.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police officers had been called to a disturbance at a neighbouring flat just after 11pm but when they arrived found Fraser along with three others in his home.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client conceded he had not prevented three people from entering his home and had been attempting to persuade them to leave when police turned up.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that Fraser had been spoken to by police regarding the importance of complying with Covid-19 advice and guidance on more than one previous occasion.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said Fraser appeared to have effectively received fixed penalties for previous failures to comply with Covid rules in June and July 2020, and imposed the £300 fine.