FOUR people who travelled to Southend during the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year have been fined.

The lockdown, which was in place for the first half of the year, initially meant no household mixing was allowed.

People were able to form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household if necessary, while exercising outside with one other person was also permitted.

Travelling outside the area where you lived was also only allowed for certain reasons, such as healthcare or work.

The four people below were stopped by police in Southend and were unable to provide answers as to why they had travelled long distances to the town.

They all appeared in court last month where they were each fined £660.

They were also ordered to pay costs of up to £156.

The four people were:

  • Alexandra Iorga, 34, was stopped in Southend on February 25 and failed to provide a reasonable excuse for travelling from his home in Cazenove Road, London.
  • Florin Manea, 41, was stopped in Westcliff on February 25 and failed to provide a reasonable excuse for travelling from his home in Springfield Drive, Ilford.
  • Valentin Blaj, 30, had travelled from Greenstead Road, Colchester, on February 20 for a walk in Southend – a reason not deemed essential by police.
  • Danielius Navickas, 24, was found inside a vehicle in Southend on February 15 with a person who he did not live with. He had travelled from his home in Grosvenor Road in Dagenham.