Three men and two women have been fined in court over a lockdown-breaking Covid house party in Aberdeen.
The group were prosecuted in court in the Scottish equivalent of the legislation used to hand former Prime Minister Boris Johnston a fixed penalty notice earlier this year.
Police shut down the illegal get-together on Dyce’s Sluie Drive on April 3 2021, where as many as 12 people had been partying despite pandemic restrictions banning socialising.
The revellers, two of whom were also caught with drugs, quickly became aggressive towards the police, with one of them challenging an officer to a fight.
Aden Robertson, 29, Ainsleigh Ross, 26, Dale Harper, 28, Christopher Jones, 32, and Nicola Inglis, or Donagan or Williamson, each pled guilty to a charge under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.
As the group – who had to be repeatedly told to be quiet in court – left the dock with fines ranging from £85 to £290, a grinning Ross crowed: “Smashed it.”
‘His relationship with the police has never been good’
Robertson, of Stewart Terrace, Aberdeen, also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, acting aggressively and challenging a police officer to fight.
Aberdeen friends Harper, of Stewart Crescent, Jones, of Charlotte Street, and Williamson, of Sluie Drive, each also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, by shouting, swearing and acting aggressively.
Harper admitted possession of cannabis and Jones admitted possession of cocaine.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told Aberdeen Sheriff Court police attended the flat on Sluie Drive around 11.10pm on April 3 2021 due to reports of a “large gathering”.
He said: “A party was ongoing with approximately 12 people in attendance, including the various accused.”
Mr McMann said Robertson, Harper, Jones and Williamson were seen to act in an “aggressive manner”, challenging officers and insisting they needed a warrant to enter the address.
They also shouted and swore at the police.
Searches of Harper and Jones uncovered small amounts of drugs.
Defence agent Tony Burgess, representing Robertson, said his client had initially gone to the address to visit family within a bubble, but that more people had attended in the evening.
He said: “He does not shy away from the fact he participated in what obviously became a gathering.
“His relationship with the police has never been good.
“We were slightly over a year into lockdown and people were becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation.”
Solicitor John Hardie, for Ross, said she had attended with Robertson, her partner, to assist his family in moving into the address.
He added: “Further people arrived and it’s accepted by her that what was going on was essentially a party.”
‘He should not have been there’
Ian McGregor, Harper’s solicitor, said his client had also initially attended to assist with the move.
He said: “He accepts he should not have been there given the regulations in force at the time.”
Chris Maitland, appearing for Jones, said: “There shouldn’t have been a gathering and he should not have become frustrated in the way he did and act in the way he did towards the police.”
Solicitor Iain Hingston, whose client Williamson was not personally present, said: “This appears to be the Scottish equivalent of what our esteemed former prime minister received a fixed penalty for, but this has found its way to the summary court.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller fined Robertson £245, Ross £85, Harper £290, Jones £205 and Williamson £205.
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