ILLEGALLY getting together during Covid lockdown earlier this year has left a number of people in south Essex out of pocket — many by more than £600. 

This week four people have had their cases heard in court in relation to breaching Tier 4 lockdown rules. 

Before Christmas much of the outh east was put into Tier 4 with its ‘no mixing’ rules.

Tier 4 meant you should stay at home as much as possible and should only leave your house for specific purposes.

Bonnie Lawford, 19, of Wimbourne, Basildon, was fined £660 for participating in a gathering of two or more people in an outdoor place in Tier 4. 

Lawford was found in a vehicle with two other persons who were not from the same household and not in a support bubble on February 12. 

At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court she was fined £660 and ordered to pay a £66 victim services charge and £90 costs. 

Michael Edwards, 34, of Little Thorpe, Basildon, was also fined for for participating in a gathering of two or more people in an outdoor place in Tier 4. 

Edwards was found in a vehicle with two other persons at a BP garage in Basildon on February 12. They were not from the same household and not in a support bubble. 

At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court he was fined £660 and ordered to pay a £66 victim services charge and £90 costs. 

William Cooper, 22, Harrow Road, North Benfleet, was stopped in a vehicle 30 miles from his home during lockdown on February 21. 

Cooper was stopped in his vehicle in Dunmow approximately 30 mile journey from home.

He stated he was walking his dogs on some land but under the Covid regulations it was deemed not reasonable excuse when there are areas to walk the dogs nearer to home.

At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court he was fined £660 and ordered to pay a £66 victim services charge and £90 costs. 

Charlene Docherty, 32, of Vincent Avenue, Horndon-on-the-Hill, was fined for participating in a gathering of two or more people in private dwelling in a Tier 4 area on February 14. 

Docherty was found in a property with two other people who were not from the same household and not in a support bubble.

At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court she was fined £166 and ordered to pay a £34 victim services charge. 

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