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Coronavirus: Father fined £480 after son is caught flouting lockdown rules four times

CATTERICK, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 28: A Police Officer from North Yorkshire Police speaks to motorists at a vehicle stop to reinforce the importance of social distancing and staying at home to people in Catterick Garrison in a joint operation with military police from 150 Provost Company Royal Military Police as the UK adjusts to life under the Coronavirus pandemic on March 28, 2020 in Catterick, United Kingdom. New police powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown will allow officers to use force to make people return home if they are in break of emergency laws. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread to at least 199 countries, claiming over 27,000 lives and infecting more than 597,000 people. There have now been 14,543 diagnosed cases in the UK and 759 deaths. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
A North Yorkshire Police officers speaks to motorists at a vehicle stop. (Getty)

A father has been fined after his teenage son broke coronavirus lockdown regulations four times in quick succession.

Officers from West Midlands Police issued the man from Walsall with a fixed penalty notice of £480, which could be doubled to £960, if the teenager continues to go outside without a good reason.

The youngster reportedly left his house three times before a warning letter was sent to his father.

When he went out again, the force was left with “no option but to issue a fine”.

Police patrol Kevingrove Park in Glasgow as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
Police patrol Kevingrove Park in Glasgow. (PA)

Commenting on the fine, Sergeant Stephen Pursglove, of Walsall Police, said “The youth has now come to our attention on four separate occasions when he has been outside without good reason.

“On at least three of these he was with other youths and on one occasion he was abusive to the officer who tried to speak to him as he ran away.

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“His father was spoken to after the first incident and the regulations, the reason for them and the risks to all of us, especially the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, were fully explained to him.

“Despite this he has failed prevent his son going out and associating with others not of his family.

A police officer patrols Brighton sea front, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
A police officer patrols Brighton seafront during the lockdown. (PA)

“This left us with no option but to issue a fine. If the youth goes out again without good reason and again associates with others the fine will be doubled and could reach £960.”

Reiterating the force’s plea to stay at home, Sgt Pursglove said: “We urge everyone to stay at home and only go out for a short period of exercise once a day, or to go to the shop for essential items or travel to work where it is not possible to work from home.

“Some people seem to think that they will not catch the virus but they can unwittingly pass it on to others as well as catching it themselves.

“Thousands of people have now died in our own country and many thousands more will die if we don’t all do everything asked of us to prevent the spread of the virus.

“While the vast majority of people are doing as they are asked, it is a pity we now have to put ourselves at risk dealing with those who do not.”

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