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Bus Passenger Fined £1,700 For Not Wearing Mask Two Days In A Row

Bus Passenger Fined £1,700 For Not Wearing Mask Two Days In A Row

He didn't pay his fixed penalty fine of £100

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

A bus passenger has been handed a £1,700 fine after being caught having failed to wear a face covering on public transport - two days in a row.

Frederick Adomako-Frimpong was ordered to pay after being apprehended by staff in a bus station twice.

The 49-year-old, from Stratford in east London, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday but offered up 'no reasonable excuse' for not wearing a mask at Stratford bus station.

PA

He was initially stopped by staff on 15 July, and then again the following day for the same reason.

He was handed the total fine of £1,710 having failed to pay the £100 fixed penalty notice he was given with 28 days.

The court saw similar cases on Friday. One involved 30-year-old Samrian Kamara from Westminster, who was charged with the same offence having being caught without a mask on 15 July.

The pregnant mother-of-three was ordered to pay £194 after claiming she had dropped her face mask while she was running to catch her bus.

Police chiefs in the North West of England - which saw stricter restrictions in various areas before the national lockdown - have warned the public about flouting the rules.

The forces have said they will use 'greater levels of enforcement' for those who don't stick to the rules during the national lockdown.

The chief constables of five forces across the region stated that they would 'collectively target' those who break the rules by holding large gatherings, music events and parties.

PA

A joint statement from the chief constables across read: "Sadly we have seen a minority right across the North West who seem incapable of demonstrating any civic responsibility and complying with the regulations.

"We know from focus groups and regional insight work the majority of the public would wish to see the police service taking a consistent and robust approach to enforcement.

"To the minority who feel the restrictions don't apply to them, be prepared to face the consequences of greater levels of enforcement.

"We will collectively target those who flout the restrictions, particularly those organising large gatherings and music events, repeatedly holding parties or deliberately causing harm to our communities by not following the restrictions, such as self-isolating where necessary."

The whole of England is in a national lockdown after cases surged amid the pandemic's second wave. People are being urged not to socialise outside their household or bubble, while hospitality businesses, gyms and others have been forced to close until 2 December.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News