UK hospitality workers fined after breaching self-isolation

In the Magistrate's Court today Mark Paul Dillon, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the self-isolation rules, while Georgie Philips, pleaded guilty to one count.

Both men have no fixed address.

Dillon was fined £3,000 for each of the breaches, with an alternative of 150 days in prison for each if he does not pay. Phillips was also fined £3,000 for his breach, with the same alternative. They will be held in custody until they pay.

Judge Gary Perry said he had to take into account that the court would see other people without means for these sort of offences. He rejected an application to delay sentencing to allow them to work and make the money to cover the fines.

'The rules are there to save lives,' he said.

'They are not some unwarranted inconvenience.'

He noted that in Dillon's case the breaches were particularly flagrant.

The court heard that the two men had arrived in Guernsey on 10 July and had agreed to take part in the seven-day testing trial. That meant they had to self-isolate until they had received a negative test result, more than a week after they arrived.

They self-isolated in the manager's flat of the Yacht Inn on South Esplanade, after travelling to the island for work.

Just before 8pm on 10 July Dillon visited the Tuck Shop on South Esplanade to buy drinks and a lighter. He was warned by the shopkeeper that he was meant to be self-isolating. Despite this he went back there at 8.30 that evening.

Then at about 9pm on 16 July, Dillon was seen outside the Harbour Lights by the woman who was going to be his new manager. She knew he was meant to be self-isolating, so led him back to the flat. Dillon told her that Philips was in the Harbour Lights, so the manager fetched him too.

The manager saw Dillon again, 25 minutes later, walking past Mojitos. She again walked him back to the flat. But 40 minutes later, she again saw him walking towards the bus terminus, this time trying to hide from her. She again returned him to the room. Customs officers attended the flat the next day. In interview Dillon said he was the reason for Philips's breach, as he had told Philips their results were negative.

Both men have subsequently tested negative for the virus.

Defence advocate David Thompson said his clients were workers in the hospitality industry, but had been out of work in the UK for some time. They had come to the island to start new jobs, after self-isolating. These offences had seen their job offers withdrawn, so they have no money and nowhere to live. He requested the sentencing be adjourned to allow the men to find work and save up money for the inevitable fines, but this was rejected, with Judge Perry noting the men might have struggled to find work due to these court matters.

Judge Perry said the rules were important to keep people safe.

'We don't need people coming from outside and undoing all the hard work the people of Guernsey have done,' he said.

If Dillon does not pay his £6,000 fine, he will face 300 days in prison, while Philips will face 150 days in prison if he does not pay the £3,000.