A teenager in Nottingham has been fined £10,000 for hosting a house party that got 'out of hand', just days before the government's new 'rule of six' comes into effect.
Neighbours reported the large gathering to Nottinghamshire Police at about 10.20pm on Friday night.
According to the Daily Mail, officers claim the 19-year-old was given the chance to shut down the party before he was fined, as community protection officers had visited the house earlier in the evening.
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However, when police arrived hours later, they found around 50 people at the address and ordered everyone to leave.
Police said if the host fails to pay the hefty fine, or contests it, he will have to appear before a court.
The property in Lenton where the party was held is currently home to six students, who do not wish to be named.
They said the party ended up escalating after guests started inviting their friends.
One of the residents told The Daily Mail: "It was meant to be a small gathering with mates and it got out of hand.
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"We had invited 25 people and it was out in the garden and aimed to end at 11pm and we were trying to social distance but then people invited their mates and so on.
"It got out of hand and we are really sorry."
Assistant chief constable Steve Cooper from Nottinghamshire Police said: "We need to all remember we are very much still in the middle of a global pandemic and we all need to take responsibility for our actions.
"This party was a clear example of a householder who deliberately flouted the rules without a care for anyone else and as a result we have used the full powers we have to deal with this.
"Under current rules we can issue fines to anyone hosting gatherings of more than 30 people which can result in fines of up to £10,000. And now we are on the eve of rules becoming even tighter so there can be gatherings of no more than six."
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Amy English, council neighbourhood policing inspector for City Central, added: "Residents have had fair warning that we won't tolerate people flouting the laws and regulations around the Coronavirus restrictions must be adhered to by everyone.
"In this case the resident also had the chance to shut the party down when they were first visited by our council colleagues."
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